Matt Mead (Matt Mead for Governor)
Former Wyoming U.S. Attorney Matt Mead on Friday announced that he is officially a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, The Gillette News reports. Mead, who served as the state’s top federal prosecutor from 2001 to 2007, formed an exploratory committee last November to consider running.
Mead resigned his federal prosecutor’s job to seek the Senate seat vacated by the death of Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.) but lost in a special GOP convention election. The seat eventually went to Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).
The former prosecutor made the announcement at Brothers Coffee in Gillette, Wyo., according to the newspaper. He said, “This is not a decision I take lightly,” adding, “Every generation of my family has stressed the importance of public service.”
The newspaper reports Mead said he will run on a platform of putting Wyoming first. “Wyoming can not sit dormant and see what happens,” he said. “We don’t let Washington treat us like a great big park with a great big fuel pump.” Mead added, “In rancher terms, our nation is in a big drought but we insist on over-grazing our children’s pastures.”
Gov. Dave Freudenthal
Two other Republicans have officially announced their candidacy: Former state Rep. Ron Micheli and state House Speaker Colin Simpson. State Auditor Rita Meyer also has been mentioned as a possible candidate.
No Democrat has yet announced plans to run. Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) has not announced whether he will seek a third term, which would require challenging term limit laws that cap the governor’s tenure at eight years. Attorney Paul Hickey and state Senate Minority Leader Mike Massie have been mentioned as possible candidates.
Mead told The Gillette News that the race will be won by the candidate who works the hardest. “My goal is to be on the road every single day.”
