BI Interviews Gov. Matt Mead

Homecoming weekend brings in numerous visitors from across the state of Wyoming. One of this year’s most distinguished visitors was Wyoming Governor Matt Mead. Gov. Mead took time from enjoying the Homecoming festivities to sit down with the BI and discuss the UW Board of Trustees, the coal industry and the state of American politics.

It’s a busy time of year, but we’re thrilled to have you here at Homecoming. Why do you think it’s so important to be here today? 

Well, for one it’s just for great fun. Being a graduate and my wife Carol also being a graduate, it’s great to come back. Also, last night we were able to go to the alumni award dinner and see the distinguished alumni and hear them talk about their careers and their lives and that’s inspirational, and [we were] able to catch up with friends. And then you add this fantastic weather for homecoming and I just think it’s not only a celebration of the University of Wyoming, but of Wyoming generally. It’s fantastic.

You are a graduate of the law school here. Are there any particular memories that you have of your time at UW?

One, I got a great education here that has served me well since graduation. Two, I met some fantastic friends here and made some great relationships. One of the first people I met on the first day was Greg Phillips and he and I became fast friends. We’re of different political parties, but [he is] one of my closest friends. When I was U.S. Attorney, I hired him at the U.S. Attorney’s office. When I became governor, I hired him as Attorney General. Now he’s on the 10^th Circuit Court of Appeals. I met Kari Gray in the first few days. She’s my chief of staff and has been my chief of staff since the start. I could list off a number of people that not only have become friends, but also have helped me through the years. I have other people that were in my law school class that were in my cabinet. Those relationships that you build here are lifelong friendships and lifelong opportunities for business relationships.

You’re currently up 25 points in the polls. It’s apparent that the people of Wyoming trust you, and it looks as though they’re going to invest in you again in November. What would you attribute the people of Wyoming’s trust to?

One, we work really hard, Carol and I have, the last four years. But I think when we think about where we started out, unemployment was about seven percent. Now it’s a little over four percent. We have the second-fastest growing GDP in the country. We’re ranked as the second-most business friendly state in the country. Wall Street 24/7has ranked us in the last three years as the first or second-best run state in the country. Those things add up, and the reason that it’s important is not only with the economy, but it allows us to do some fantastic stuff with regards to infrastructure. For example, the $100-plus million we’re putting into engineering. This science initiative we started, as well. To be able to support facilities not only at UW but also at community colleges and our communities. Roads, bridges, water, sewer. To continue to make Wyoming stronger every day is, I think, important. We tackle every issue head on. Some are very tough issues, but the job of governor is to make those tough calls and do your best, and sometimes it’s popular and sometimes it’s unpopular. But it’s a job that you have to do.

You brought up the science task force that you currently have working on science programs at UW. I attended a Faculty Senate meeting recently, and a couple of departments raised concerns—particularly Botany and Entomology—that the science task force isn’t going to address their needs. Can you speak to that at all? 

Well I can’t speak specifically about those two concerns, but the people on the task force are not only people who are distinguished in their field, but it also includes people on the faculty. I think they’re trying to be as inclusive as possible, but if there’s concerns out there I am confident that that group will hear those concerns, because the idea isn’t to leave anybody behind it is to see how we can help everyone in the sciences.

The task force focuses on improving laboratories on campus. What brought that about? Was it a realization that facilities on campus were inadequate?

 Yeah I think that’s part of it. Also, when I put together the task force on engineering, we recognized that facilities matter. They absolutely matter, and when you see something like the Business College here, you know it makes a difference to have a nice facility. But if you want to have cutting edge science, cutting edge engineering, not only do you need great faculty and students, you need great facilities. Because we only have one university, you know we want to do our best. We have the science initiative. We have the STEM building going up, but you know there are other things to look at. The dormitories for example; in my view we’ve got to address the dormitories in the future. Athletics are also something I want to address this session if we have the revenue. It’s piece by piece, but we want to lift all boats at the University of Wyoming. We have the ability to do that, and not only at UW but at the community colleges as well.

We spoke recently to an associate professor here at the university, Marianne Kamp, and she’s started a petition calling for greater diversity and gender parity on appointed boards including the Board of Trustees. Do you think there is an underrepresentation of state interest on the Board of Trustees?

 Well, you can count the numbers; there are more males than females on there. That is an issue. Frankly, the state struggles with that in other areas as well. I think I have three trustee appointees coming up in March and the way it works, if you look at the statute, it can be very complex, it’s not only Republican/Democrat, it’s geographic as well. And so, when we put out the word that there’s a vacancy, we look at everybody and just try to pick the best person. Wava Tully, one of the more recent appointments is a Democrat from Niobrara County. It’s just the way Wyoming is. In Niobrara County there’s not a lot of Democrats. Sometimes, you don’t have the biggest selection, that you would if it was just wide open.. But the reason that is so is that you don’t get everyone from Cheyenne or Cody or Rock Springs, because the geographical diversity is also important. People have different perspectives from different parts of the state. We are aware of that and we’ll try to do our best in the upcoming selection not only with that but also with other appointed boards.

Part two of the Governor’s interview with the BI will be published in tomorrow’s edition

…By Joel Funk & Adam Croft