I've spent a lifetime in public service in Wyoming, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that you can tell a lot about a leader by how they treat the people they serve.
Do they talk at folks, or do they listen?
Do they arrive with all the answers, or do they take the time to understand each person and their questions?
That's why I'm confident to support Eric Barlow — because Eric is the rare candidate who leads by listening first.
In my conversations with Eric Barlow, I can say without hesitation that he is a conservative in the fundamental sense of the word.
I'm not talking about the kind of conservatism that gets performed on a debate stage or packaged into a thirty-second ad.
I'm talking about the bedrock principles that built Wyoming and built this country — limited government, personal responsibility, fiscal discipline, and an unwavering respect for the rights and freedoms of every citizen.
Eric doesn't wear conservatism like a campaign hat that he can put on and take off. It's who he is and how he reflects Wyoming values. It's how he thinks, how he makes decisions, and how he'll lead as Governor.
Top two principles of a conservative Republican are integrity and respect for others. Look to former Wyoming Governors Stan Hathaway and Cliff Hansen. That’s Eric Barlow.
But what has impressed me most about Eric — and what I believe sets him apart in this race — is his genuine commitment to hearing from the people of Wyoming.
I've watched him at community events, at kitchen tables, and on front porches across this state.
He doesn't show up with a stump speech and a stopwatch. He shows up with questions. He wants to know what's working, what's broken, and what people need to succeed.
They don’t want something for nothing. They want clear choices of how to work as partners.
He listens to ranchers and roughnecks, teachers and small business owners, retirees and young families just getting started. And he doesn't just nod politely — he absorbs what he hears, asks questions to better understand and then puts it to work.
Wyoming businesses tell us that they have trouble attracting a quality workforce, especially younger people.
What do young families most desire to attract them to a location? Not just a job offer.
They want quality education and health care, not just nearby in neighboring states but right here in Wyoming, especially in rural communities. Eric is a strong advocate for both.
Wyoming is a big state with a small population. Outsiders such as the Freedom Caucus have decided Wyoming voters are naive and gullible.
They are wrong. National endorsements followed by outsider PAC funding are responsible for the disingenuous and dishonest ads that are intended to manipulate voters.
Those PACs are admitting they don’t have confidence in the qualities of their own candidate so they attack the opposition.
These outside interests manipulate their candidates like a puppet on a string.
I've served alongside good leaders and I've seen my share of disappointing ones.
The difference almost always comes down to character — do they have the principles to stand firm and the humility to listen?
Eric Barlow has both.
He will stand firm for Wyoming's values, and he's the kind of person who will never forget that those values come from you, the people of this state.
I'm asking you to join me and support Eric Barlow to be Wyoming’s next governor.
We want a governor who will listen and then act, be a leader.
By Former Gov. Jim Geringer
