For at least one of Wyoming’s 93 state lawmakers, Friday was take-your-child-to-work day.
Parenting duties fell to State Sen. Brian Boner, R-Douglas, at a most interesting time as he was at the Capitol for the fourth day of the Wyoming Legislature’s 2023 session.
“I had some sudden parent-citizen duties,” Boner told Cowboy State Daily.
But Boner took his dad responsibilities like a champ, letting his 18-month-old son Martin Boner take center stage as he held him from the floor of the Wyoming Senate.
“Hopefully it sends a message to young parents that the Legislature is a friendly place to work,” he said.
Quiet Recognition
Senate President Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, introduced Boner and his sleeping son to the floor, requesting the other senators hold their applause to not wake the young child up.
“Had unexpected circumstances here this morning so here he is with me,” Boner said, giving his son a gentle pat on the back. “We’ve got some reinforcements coming down from Converse County.”
Boner said he appreciated Driskill and the rest of his colleagues in the Senate being understanding of the situation.
“I would say let’s welcome him, but let’s just be a nice little quiet welcome, that’d be great,” Boner said with a chuckle.
The senators then gave Martin an extremely quiet standing ovation.
“Welcome to a future senator,” Driskill said.
Well-Behaved
Boner said his son slept most of the morning session, but did get to meet Driskill up close, shaking his hand from his proud father’s arms.
“He was very social,” Boner said.
Boner said he hadn’t heard of any recent instances of a legislator having to babysit from the floor, but Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, the second-longest serving member of the Legislature, told Boner it had happened to him before.
Whether Martin will catch the political bug like his father is probably too early to predict, but Boner wouldn’t rule it out.
“I guess we’ll have to see,” Boner said. “I hate to pre-judge, but he doesn’t seem to be running away from it.”
