As a candidate for Governor, Ron Micheli will spend his campaign rolling out policy proposals that are innovative and solve the problems facing Wyoming citizens. Read about his vision for the state here in his own words – from Economic Development to Energy and Education – or sign up for the Campaign Newsletter to get the latest updates and official policy rollouts first!
Economic Development
As Governor, I will work diligently to build a strong economy with high quality jobs by working to protect the industries we have in Wyoming and diversifying our economic base. I want to make sure that our children have the best opportunity for success in Wyoming. Wyoming has a top flight education system. Unfortunately, one of our biggest exports has historically been our well-educated children. As Governor, I will work hard to make sure that people who want to stay in Wyoming will have the opportunities to find high-quality jobs in Wyoming.
Because I have spent my life as the owner of a small business, I understand the difficulties associated with making a payroll, paying taxes, providing health insurance, and trying to grow a small business. I will work to ensure that Wyoming welcomes and encourages entrepreneurs and small business owners and that those small business owners are given every opportunity to prosper and create high quality jobs in Wyoming.
Personal Freedom
Decisions should generally be made by those closest to the situation. This means that, to the greatest extent possible, individuals should control their lives and futures without interference from government, parents should have the first say in their family’s and children’s lives, and local elected officials should have primary control over local issues.
This also means that national politicians and unelected bureaucrats that live thousands of miles from Wyoming and have likely never set foot in the state should not dictate Wyoming’s policies. As Governor, I will push back on the federal incursion into our state’s rights. I will work to ensure that the federal government complies with the 10th Amendment and allows Wyoming the authority to control its own future.
Finally, our founding fathers understood the importance of the right to bear firearms as a cornerstone of preserving freedom and liberty. I will defend the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms.
Wyoming’s Culture and Values
Our history of hard work, self-reliance, sacrifice, and perseverance is part of the heritage that we all enjoy. Wyoming citizens understand that these values don’t come from government programs, but are forged in the family. As Governor, I will work to strengthen and protect these values by protecting and strengthening Wyoming’s families. This means keeping our tax burden low so families can make ends meet. I will also work to protect against policies that erode traditional family values. Wyoming and America cannot continue to lead the world if we suffer from a collapse of the family.
I have a 16 year voting record in the State Legislature supporting and upholding the sanctity of human life. I sponsored and carried legislation that prevented state funding of abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or life of the mother. I supported and advocated legislation to require parental notification before an abortion could be performed on a minor. I have found that on issues of life, actions speak louder than words. I am proud of my long record of protecting the sanctity of life.
Fiscal Responsibility
Wyoming has been blessed with many natural resources. These resources have provided tremendous economic benefits for Wyoming. As a result, Wyoming has enjoyed some of the lowest individual tax burdens in the nation. We cannot, however, take this for granted. Recent events have shown that the state’s income from mineral development can swing dramatically. We must renew a sense of fiscal responsibility in our state government. We must make sure enough money is invested and put away so that when the ever-fluctuating source of mineral income declines, Wyoming citizens will not be crushed with the added expense thrust on them by an expanding budget.
Education
My family has been involved in and greatly benefited from the Wyoming education system. My children have all received great educations from Wyoming’s public schools and the University of Wyoming. Patty, my wife, and three of our children are teachers and have taught, or are teaching, in Wyoming schools. I hold the highest admiration and respect for those who prepare our children for the challenges of tomorrow’s world. To ensure our children can carry on America’s leadership in the world, we need to provide our teachers with the resources and tools to effectively educate our students.
Wyoming has always valued education and Wyoming’s education system is one of the best in the country. If elected, I will work to make sure Wyoming schools and Wyoming teachers have all of the resources they need to succeed. However, I will not fall into the mindset that simply throwing more money at schools is the only answer. Certainly, adequate financial resources are the first step. In addition, we need to work to make sure that parents and communities are involved in their children’s education. As Governor, I will work closely with organizations and groups working to enhance parents’ and communities’ important role in education.
Health Care
I have raised a family in small town Wyoming and understand the frustrations of trying to find local services and driving great distances to care for a child, a spouse, or myself. I have also felt the squeeze of trying to provide health insurance as a small business owner. As Governor, I commit to working with all stakeholders and communities across Wyoming to improve access to affordable medical services, to recruit and retain qualified medical professionals, and to modernize Wyoming’s medical infrastructure. By bringing the best and brightest from all parts of the state together, we can improve the system in place and help provide quality health care to all of Wyoming. My role in this issue will be to listen and hear all sides and act upon the advice of experts. Too many times in government, we form committees and groups to make recommendations, and when they do, the leadership fails to follow through. As Governor, you can count on me to hear the people and follow through with concrete action. Whatever decision we come to needs to make patient care the top priority.
Energy Development
In these turbulent economic times, Wyoming must be a leader in providing the fuel to drive our national economy. Wyoming’s coal, natural gas, oil, uranium, wind and other resources can provide the means for our nation to wean itself from its reliance on foreign oil and the energy needed to get our economy back on track.
As a fourth-generation rancher, I understand the responsibilities and necessity of taking care of the land and protecting our environment. Development should not come at the cost of destroying our open spaces and those things that we all love about Wyoming. I also understand and appreciate the important contributions of our mineral extraction industry and it can bring for our future.
As Governor, I will aggressively pursue policies that both enhance Wyoming’s economy and protect our way of life. By working together, we can use new technologies, new processes, and common sense policies to protect our environment while ensuring Wyoming’s resources are responsibly developed. I will work with the state agencies to make sure that regulations are streamlined, that we are using the best science to protect Wyoming’s open spaces and that we are utilizing the natural resources of this state.
Wyoming is at a crossroads, some warn of the impending industrialization of Wyoming’s open spaces and others fret over layers of regulation that don’t seem to contemplate actual enhancement or protection of the environment. I will make it my top priority to ensure that all of Wyoming’s assets, from its natural environment to its natural resources, are utilized and protected.
Open Spaces
I love Wyoming for its open spaces, its beautiful scenery and rugged independence. Whenever possible, our family vacations are pack trips deep into the forests and wilderness areas where we can go a week without seeing another person. I treasure those experiences. I want my children and grandchildren to have those same opportunities to hunt, fish, explore, grow and learn from Wyoming’s vast natural beauties. We must maintain the delicate balance between our open spaces and development. With modern technology, with proper planning, and with mutual respect between all parties involved, I believe we can achieve that balance.
