Eric Barlow and I got off to a rocky start. Barlow was one of the most vocal constituents in a district that covered half of rural Campbell County – which, through redistricting, has since been divided into pieces of four house districts.
I found him well-informed, no-nonsense, and maybe a little tenacious on the issues of the day. Eric was told, when he was a freshman Representative, that he would come to understand the burdens of representing an entire, and varied, district. Little did anyone know he would blossom into a talented legislator with abilities far beyond what most anticipated.
He was assigned to the complicated Labor, Health and Social Services Committee, because the problems of healthcare in Wyoming will never go away. He approached his committee work with intelligence and discernment.
Since then, he has authored and passed over 60 bills, all of which started as requests from his constituents. He guided the legislature through complicated political times without fanfare. He listened and produced results.
As polling data makes his opponents increasingly shrill, here's why Eric Barlow should be the choice for governor. Ignore the poll driven attack ads. Listen to the man.
Prior to publication, Eric, and his campaign, did not see this column.
Those who have come to know him well over the years call him a friend.
It is not his political skills, which are formidable, it is the man he is.
Allow a few examples, Eric the candidate will never share.
Eric is the type of guy who, when your pickup breaks down, will throw on a pair of coveralls, diagnose and fix the truck. He's done it for more than a few friends, when they've had emergency breakdowns, on more than one Campbell County country road.
He's the type of guy who will jump on the back of a pickup with a weed sprayer to help save a neighbor's ranch from a wildfire.
He's the type of guy who, when someone is having a hard time making ends meet at the end of the month, will slip that person a few dollars or a bag of groceries so the family can make it through. And he'll do it in a way that everyone maintains their dignity.
He's the type of guy who, when invited to a social function at your house, will package up all the leftovers, put them in the refrigerator, and do all the dishes, all before the host has a chance to say goodbye to departing guests.
He's the type of guy who, during a parade, will push a disabled float off the route simply because it was the right thing to do.
Without seeking any praise other than doing the right thing, he donates meat to the food pantry so they can provide meals to folks less fortunate. He does it without fanfare, without recognition, and will not make this item of his character a campaign issue. He does it because good people should.
When he looks at his wife Kelly, an amazing woman in her own right, you can see the deep adoration of a spouse who has been by his side through good times and bad, and in that glance, you can see the soul-deep love.
There is something about a man who lives on the plot of land that has sustained his family for four generations. He thinks about things in the long term. He operates his ranch frugally, but with stewardship to ensure the land is healthy and productive for the next generation.
He moved back to the ranch after his father's untimely death. On his ranch, oil and gas operations peacefully coexist with sheep, cattle, and yak. All operations are conducted with an eye on the future, not just some cheap immediate gain.
His long-term vision is part of his makeup, and as governor, he will bring that vision into office.
At meals with the family, he begins every meal with grace, thanking the Lord for the blessings of family and food. He does not wear his religion on his sleeve, but his faith is truly a part of who he is.
These are not campaign qualities. They are character qualities. But they translate directly into how a person governs.
A man who fixes a stranger's truck on the side of the road, or jumps on a sprayer to save a neighbor's ranch, does not wait for someone else to solve a problem. He shows up and does the work. That is what Wyoming needs from a governor when the state faces a budget shortfall, a coal plant closure, or a federal land grab – someone who acts, rather than someone who waits for the polling to tell him it's safe.
Some people are lucky, in life, to call a few exceptional people their friends.
Eric Barlow is special. His character sets him apart.
He has earned this endorsement for governor. He should earn your vote too.
Tom Lubnau served in the Wyoming Legislature from 2004 to 2015 and is a former Speaker of the House. He can be reached at: YourInputAppreciated@gmail.com
