Freudenthal happy with progress
July 7, 2006
Cody Enterprise
By RICHARD REEDER,
Managing Editor
Truth be told, Gov. Dave Freudenthal loves being a candidate more so than holding the post.
"I liked it when I was just a candidate because I had more interaction with the public," Freudenthal said. "Now if I jump out of a car or off a horse when I'm in a parade, security gets extremely nervous. So my ability to get up close is more limited," he added. "No security people cared when I was just a candidate."
Freudenthal is seeking his second term as governor, but hasn't been on the campaign trail much yet.
"The reality is the schedule is just too full," he said. "I have so many public events to attend and they all are important."
"I'll hit the campaign trail hard once the state fair is over and people are finished with vacations," he added. "Until then I try and make everything I can across the state."
Freudenthal says the choice in this campaign is a simple one for voters.
"Are they comfortable with the direction we have taken and the things we've accomplished the last four years or not?" he said. "If they aren't then they can choose to reverse directions."
Freudenthal said he's helped accomplish many things for the state including the Wildlife Trust Fund, Business Ready Community Grants and the Hathaway Scholarships for students.
"The Business Ready Grants have been a great help in attracting new businesses to Wyoming," he said. "My fear when we started them was the money might end up in Cheyenne and Casper and not reach other people."
"But that hasn't been the case - Cody and Powell have each received grants," he added. "This has been more successful than we could have imagined."
Freudenthal says the Wildlife Trust Fund money has done what he envisioned - protecting beautiful spots from over-development.
"I've been outspoken in my stance about keeping open spaces and preserving some wilderness spots," he said. "It's up to us to leave these places for our grandchildren like our grandparents left for us."
"I think there is a balance between development and preserving open spaces," he added. "This trust fund is helping us achieve that balance."
He's excited to see the Hathaway Scholarships start going to Wyoming high school students.
"This will help us keep the best and the brightest home," he said. "We will become more education friendly and really help our own young people."
A campaign issue in Wyoming and other states is how to handle the methamphetamine problem.
"The stark truth is there is no silver bullet to solve the meth problem," he said. "We have tried to be as aggressive as possible and now we just have to stay the course and find ways to help people out of their addictions."
Freudenthal had asked for 15 new state troopers during the last legislative session, but that was trimmed to seven when the final numbers were released.
"We'll continue to put more money into law enforcement," he said. "But we will also try to find ways for residential and non-residential treatment programs for people involved with meth."
"Just locking people up isn't working," he added. "We have to treat the problems and keep people from leaving jail and going back to old lifestyles."
Freudenthal is confident about his record of achievement the last four years.
"I think we have made many great changes for the state," he said. "But it hasn't been just me. I've shown I can work with the Legislature and get things done."
"The biggest thing we have avoided is people thinking this has to be my idea for this to work," he added. "We've been able to come together and work through our differences without too much in-fighting."
