CHEYENNE — I have always admired politicians — at least most of them.
They have the discipline and dedication — and the ego — to offer themselves to the public, the voters. Some observers call it a “fire in the belly.”
That is pretty dramatic term when you are referring to a city council or state legislature seat. But to a degree, it is necessary for a candidate to believe he or she can do a better job than the opponent.
I never had any of that.
So I was content to be the reporter who transmitted to voters news of their government and what it was doing, and in some cases, not doing at all, and why.
In the latest issue of the “Governing” newsletter, Alan Greenblatt reported his retirement as editor, along with lessons he learned in 30 years covering and reporting politics.
While he was based in Washington, D.C., and covered Congress and national politics, my beat was Wyoming government, the Legislature and, when necessary, a murder trial in Sundance or Pinedale. Despite the difference, there were parallels and similar conclusions.
For example, Greenblatt wrote, “Politicians are not hacks” but are well-informed for the most part, although “there’s more corruption taking place in government than we’ll ever know about.”
I can’t agree with the corruption statement though, having covered Wyoming government at all levels.
Greenblatt, who traveled countrywide to interview voters, said most are not obsessed about politics.
But, he did discover a disconnect between the election issues reporters thought were tops, compared to what interested the voters.
Voters were focused on local issues like scandals close to home, rather than national health care costs or unemployment, which were of more interest to reporters.
I encountered a similar disconnect with Wyoming voters years ago when I wrongly assumed that water conservation and storage would be a major issue in the in the coming legislative session.
As a result I churned out stories about water development projects, which were seen by some as essential in the war to protect Wyoming water
After the Legislature adjourned, the University of Wyoming released its usual poll of legislative issues. Turned out only a small percent — 4 percent or so — of people surveyed said the water issues were important to them.
That was a big lesson. I was so sure this was top priority for voters in an election year, while they were interested in bills about wildlife and guns.
Greenblatt talked to voters a month ago in a Missouri county that gave President Donald Trump 82 percent of its votes last year.
“Unsurprisingly, residents seem happy with his performance,” he wrote. “But what was striking was the almost complete lack of specificity in their descriptions of what he's been up to during his highly-active term back in power so far.”
“That's been the norm, in my experience. For whatever reason, people are not as tuned in to politics as those of us who cover it for a living would expect,” he added.
I suspect he would find the same in Wyoming, a totally red state.
Greenblatt warned about the trend of politicians and government officials to refuse to talk to reporters or the news media in general.
I have noticed this trend here, with reports of news media messages not being answered.
In my experience, the non-returned calls, or worse, the hang-ups, have been problems for years, along with closed public meetings.
Politicians and government agencies should be aware that refusing to respond is really bad public relations.
It doesn’t make you look good, folks.
Greenblatt’s lessons are a lot like mine, but mine are on a much smaller scale.
Contact Joan Barron at 307-632-2534 or jmbarron@bresnan.net
