By Jim Stanford on March 4, 2010
Freudenthal speaks to supporters at a gathering in Jackson last summer.
In a move that largely had been expected, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said today he won’t seek a third term.
“Eight years is enough,” the governor told the Cowboy State Free Press.
Why he waited so long to make the announcement is a bit of a mystery, but so has been much of Freudenthal’s political strategy these past few years.
The move clears the way for a primary with what is likely to be a crowded Republican field and one prominent Democratic contender, state Sen. Mike Massie of Laramie.
While Freudenthal enjoyed high popularity, he often frustrated Democratic supporters by not going far enough on their behalf. I once heard him say that the best way for him to help the Democratic Party in Wyoming was to be a good governor, and while Democrats would not dispute that, there is a sense of disappointment that he could have done more.
Among his accomplishments are creation of the Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Fund and major investments in education, including the Hathway Scholarship program at the University of Wyoming.
Posted under Democratic Party, Politics, Wyoming Legislature
A friend remarked that I should give some examples to back up this assessment of Freudenthal’s legacy, so here are a few culled from e-mails.
Issues where Gov Dave could have gone further on behalf of conservation:
– Roadless areas and snowmobiles in Yellowstone
– If wolves had been designated as trophy animals, Game & Fish could be managing by now.
– Pushed harder and taken a leadership position for better CBM-produced water.
Also:
– Could have taken an aggressive approach on health care reform.
I’m surprised this hasn’t generated any discussion. By the end of his first term, the governor was enormously popular and had credibility with even the less progressive elements of Wyoming. He could have leveraged that support to nudge the state in a more progressive direction, but he never showed the courage to do so.
Wolves are a prime example. After fighting the feds for years, the gov could have turned to the Wyoming people and said it’s time to settle, and I think the public would have been behind him. But he has continued to try to score cheap political points at the expense of sound policy. He will wind up being the greatest benefactor of wolf populations, as the wolves have proliferated beyond all projections while he has continued to fight fruitlessly.
Sadly, the governor always seemed afraid that his support would erode — walking on eggshells, the typical Democratic predicament in a heavily Republican state. If he had only been stronger, he might have found people lining up behind him.
Even after winning re-election by a 70-30 margin, he always seemed to be running for something … until he wasn’t.
The three things that will get a Democrat kick out of office in Wyoming.
1) Mess with the resident’s lively hood. Or even let the public perception seem like you are, even if you not.
2) Mess with Hunting or Guns. Or even let the public perception seem like you are, even if you not.
3) Mess with public land residents have been enjoying for generations. The land where family hunting trip, camping trips, and fishing trips have become traditions to pass down from generation to generation. Or even let the public perception seem like you are, even if you not.
Its not what he was doing, it is what people would think he was doing. My Dad (Far Right leaning) and the Gov. were friends and work on many projects together, and on more then one occasion when I was with the two of them the Gov. said. “I could raise the Taxes in this state 10% and no one would really care, however if I mess up the elk population I will be out of office tomorrow.”
So in truth he was walking on thin thin ice and I think he did a pretty good job with it. He always had to take into account how it would be spun to the less informed segment of the WYO residents.
I do wish that the wolf situation would be settled because in the end it is hurting us more then helping. I don’t know why he didn’t do it in the end knowing he didn’t need to worry about campaigning again.
His pandering to the snowmobile industry is what turned me off to him.