Announcement Speech

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Announcement Day Speech Notes
April 3, 2006
Governor Dave Freudenthal

Four years ago I asked you for the opportunity to serve as your Governor. Serving as Governor is a job. A unique job, but a job nonetheless, and you are the employer. I viewed the campaign as an extended job interview conducted on doorsteps, in meeting halls and coffee shops all over our great state.

In a close contest you granted to me the honor of serving as your Governor. And it truly is an honor. Ours is a wonderful state, blessed by Providence with majestic beauty and remarkable energy and natural resources. Equally remarkable are the people who have chosen to live in this 98,000 square mile range in the heart of the American West.

Specific suggestions and an open approach to governing were center stage in our last campaign. Re-emphasizing water development, a wildlife trust fund, business ready communities, and expanded tourism efforts, support for diversification of our economy, strengthened environmental agencies and mineral auditors, a greater commitment to education and senior citizens, were each part of the campaign conversation. I am proud to report - together, we have made progress in these and many other areas.

I intentionally talk about "we". I know that political and elected leaders like to emphasize the "I" word. But building Wyoming actually takes teamwork. And as the saying goes "there is no I in team." I know and you know, the Governor does not act alone. Progress results from many people's efforts - the Governor often plays an important role by connecting good people with resources to work on a particular issue, or by staking out a position and persuading others of its merits, but he is hardly the only actor on the stage. The Governor should be a thoughtful participant in these conversations but not worry about who will get the credit at the end of the day. The last four years are a perfect example of how much we can get done when we don't worry about who will get the credit.

Much was made in the last campaign about the evils inherent in the Governor being of a political party different than the legislative majority. Perhaps with your experience with Governor Herschler and Governor Sullivan in mind, you ignored this partisan argument and gave me a chance to earn this job based on my own views of Wyoming and an open door to the governor's office. You opted for a balance, between the Governor and the legislature.

And I dare say you were right. The Legislature and I have had our healthy differences and divisions; this is as it should be. The differences and discussions have been open to the public. The legislature and I have agreed, we have disagreed, but mostly we have worked together to make sure Wyoming moves forward. I would gladly take the accomplishments and lack of partisanship of our last four legislative sessions over the destructive focus on party politics in Washington DC.

Our approach is in sharp contrast to the unproductive posturing, attack and counterattack of national politics. By keeping the noise level down and an open door to cooperation and collaboration - we have set a leadership tone that encourages good people to work together to do good things for the state we love.

In the past four years I have followed your lead and emphasized participation and progress over partisanship. I seldom know and never care how someone is registered when I read their letter or talk with them. Problems and opportunities do not come labeled as Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Independent, or unregistered. Whether appointments to state agencies and boards or task forces, the key has been to look for people interested in solving problems and building Wyoming. This is as it should be.

The difficult issues in Wyoming tend to separate us on a regional or watershed basis. And sometimes the divide is between mineral and non-mineral counties, or large and small school districts. Our successes rest on recognizing the differences but emphasizing the shared benefits of progress. We can never agree on every issue all of the time - all that is necessary for us to work together is to agree that Wyoming and our families are too important to be lost in a storm of unproductive partisan rhetoric.

There will be many opportunities to talk about particular issues during the fall general election. My purpose today is to formally announce my intention to ask you - the voters - to extend my employment contract for four more years this coming November.

In the coming months my first priority remains to be Governor of Wyoming. The employment contract you gave me is a full four years, not three years and three months. I intend to honor that contract. For example, I expect to leave Cheyenne early tomorrow morning with General Wright to visit the Wyoming National Guard Troops in Fort Lewis, Washington.

As the incumbent Governor, I have a record which should be properly reviewed and evaluated by the voters. This administration makes no claim of perfection. In reviewing the last few years, I am comfortable that Wyoming is moving in the right direction. Ours is an exciting and promising future. We should not lose heart, nor rest on our laurels. By working together we have made great progress in building Wyoming. Let's not stop now - our work is not complete.

I hope you will join Nancy and me in one more campaign to make Wyoming great.

Thank you.