Former U.S. Attorney Matt Mead (R) was sworn in on Monday as Wyoming’s 32nd governor.

Mead served as the state’s U.S. Attorney from from 2001 to 2007. He already has named several of his former colleagues from the office to his administration.

At the swearing-in ceremony and at the inaugural ball that night were several former U.S. Attorneys, according to former Colorado U.S. Attorney Troy Eid, who attend the events.

Among those in attendance were Bill Mercer of Montana, Johnny Sutton of the Western District of Texas, John Ratcliffe of the Eastern District of Texas, Tom Moss of Idaho and Susan Brooks of the Southern District of Indiana, according to Eid.

This story has been corrected from an earlier version.

Former U.S. Attorney and Wyoming Governor-elect Matt Mead (R) has named two former colleagues to his cabinet, the Associated Press reported.

Tony Young, who will serve as Mead’s deputy chief of staff, served as the head of the Wyoming Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee in the U.S. Attorney’s office. He also worked as Mead’s assistant campaign manager and as deputy chief of the transition team.

Carol Statkus, who will serve as Mead’s general counsel and have responsibility for policy oversight, served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. She also worked as Mead’s campaign manager.

Mead served as Wyoming’s U.S. Attorney from 2001 to 2007.

Matt Mead (Matt Mead for Governor)

Matt Mead, a former Wyoming U.S. Attorney, will be one of seven candidates vying for the Republican nomination for governor. Friday marked the deadline for major party candidates to file with the Wyoming Secretary of State’s office.

The other Republicans in the race are Alan Kousoulos; state auditor Rita Meyer; former state Agriculture Director Ron Micheli; John H. Self; state House Speaker Colin Simpson; and Tom A Ubben.

Five Democrats filed paperwork to seek the nomination for the open seat currently occupied by Gov. Dave Freudenthal, who is term limited. They are Pete Gosar; Al Hamburg; Wyoming Democratic Party chairwoman Leslie Petersen; Rex Wilde; and Chris L. Zachary.

Both primaries will take place August 17.

A volunteer for an opponent of a former U.S. Attorney who is now running for governor in Wyoming tricked people seeking information on the ex-prosecutor — Matt Mead -  on the Internet, the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle reported today.

Matt Mead (Matt Mead for Governor)

The unnamed volunteer bought the Internet domain name mattmeadforgovernor.com, which redirected visitors to the campaign Web site of Wyoming state auditor Rita Meyer, who is running against Mead for the Republican nomination for governor. The bogus Web address now directs users to Mead’s official campaign Web site, meadforgovernor.com.

“This is the power of technology,” Meyer told the newspaper. “Sometimes these technology whippersnappers get a little overenthusiastic.”

The state auditor added that she took the campaign helper “to the woodshed” and was sorry about the incident.

Mead told the Tribune-Eagle that he didn’t think Meyer was involved with the Web site trickery. But he said using deception “isn’t the way you campaign in Wyoming.”

“I want voters to view everyone’s ideas,” Mead told the Cheyenne newspaper. “I don’t understand why somebody wants to do something like this. I don’t think it’s effective.”

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.”

Matt Mead (Matt Mead for Governor)

Former Wyoming U.S. Attorney Matt Mead on Thursday formed an exploratory committee to consider running for the Republican nomination for governor in 2010, The Casper Star-Tribune reports.

Mead served as the state’s top federal prosecutor from 2001 to 2007. He resigned 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.).

Mead said after a recent meeting of the Natrona County Republican Women that his interest “is not a casual exploration. It is a serious move to announce a candidacy in 2010,” The Star-Tribune reported.

Mead plans to spend the next months traveling across the state. He will not actively fund raise until after the the winter holiday season, The Star-Tribune reports. “I don’t believe campaigns should be as lengthy as they are,” Mead told the newspaper. However, Mead’s Web site Meadforgovernor.com is accepting donations.

Republicans who have officially announced their candidacy are former state Rep. Ron Micheli and state House Speaker Colin Simpson. State Auditor Rita Meyer also has been mentioned as a possible candidate.

No Democrats have 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.