CHEYENNE – Gov. Mark Gordon discussed current issues with members of the media during a Zoom conference Thursday, where he answered questions about Wyoming election security, local control and public concerns about concealed carry of weapons in the Capitol Extension.
WyoFile state government and politics reporter Maggie Mullen asked the governor for his views on local control after the University of Wyoming bowed to political pressure and withdrew its volleyball team from a match against San Jose State, which has a transgender player . Mullen said local control “has long held sway” in the Wyoming Legislature, although “more recently Republican lawmakers have become divided on that issue.”
“Do you think this kind of pressure maintains local control?” Mullen said.
Gordon responded that members of the Legislature tend to weigh in on topics that interest them.
“One problem we all have to recognize is that the higher you go in government, the more you tend to think you can solve everyone’s problems,” Gordon said. “I don’t think that’s particularly Republican.”
The governor added that he supported the university’s decision to withdraw from the competition, saying the team was divided over the issue. However, Gordon also added that UW receives funding from the Legislature, “and that gives the university some responsibility to respond to that.”
Jackson Hole News&Guide state government reporter Jasmine Hall inquired about the governor’s recent executive order prohibiting state agencies from distributing voter registration materials to non-citizens in the state of Wyoming.
“In Teton County, over 15% of our population is Hispanic or Latino. Do you think rhetoric and executive orders like this will lead to more surveillance or intimidate Latino or Hispanic voters who are citizens? Hall said.
Gordon responded that “it seemed appropriate” to ensure that the Cowboy State “does not participate in any effort to ensure that ineligible voters have the opportunity to register.” The governor said he has had several conversations with county clerks who felt the order was helpful.
He also said he has faced widespread criticism after vetoing two proposed voter registration rules from Secretary of State Chuck Gray earlier this year.
However, Gordon said Gray’s rule changes “went beyond his authority as secretary of state.” This conclusion came not only from the governor, Gordon said, but also from the attorney general and the Legislative Service Office.
Regarding intimidating Latino and Hispanic voters to go to the polls, Gordon said he “doesn’t want to try to intimidate anyone.”
“It’s not always easy. It’s not always the easiest thing to be a citizen,” Gordon said. “Sometimes it takes courage.”
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle asked the governor for comment on a recent online survey from the State Construction Department, regarding allowing concealed weapon carry in the Capitol Extension, an underground corridor connecting the Wyoming Capitol and the Herschler Building.
The survey received more than 130 public comments, and 87% opposed allowing firearms in the Capitol, citing security concerns and political intimidation. The governor said he would not ignore these concerns, but added that it was not a very large sample size.
“There have been a lot of people who have expressed both sides of that sentiment. For me, I think this is an evolving conversation,” Gordon said. “I would encourage people, because they have strong opinions on this issue, to … use that comment period.”
ARPA financing
Before taking questions from the media, Gordon opened the discussion with the latest update on federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The federal government requires all states to commit to specific uses of ARPA funds by December 31 and to expend the funds by December 31, 2026.
“We really tried to make sure those dollars went into sustainable assets because there was so much demand for them across the country,” Gordon said. “We have now come to the end.”
ARPA funds cannot be used until those contracts are completed, Gordon said, and several communities in Wyoming have struggled to find contractors to implement those plans.
“It was difficult to ensure that some of those projects could be completed. We expected this,” said Gordon.
In June, Gordon announced that any ARPA funds not fully obligated by October 1 “may be recaptured, and we will make one final effort to use these funds appropriately according to federal guidelines.” The governor said Thursday that some of that funding is already coming back after some projects, such as the Wheatland water tower, were not completed by that deadline.
State officials will meet at the end of the month to discuss distributing funds to existing projects, Gordon said, in addition to other options such as using Mineral Royalty Grants (MRGs) and emergency financing.
“The plans are in place,” Gordon said. “We believe it will be possible to continue this if we can get so-called Mineral Royalty Grants passed by this Legislature.”
Wildfire attempts
Gordon said the state will tap its Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account, also known as the rainy day fund, to access about $20 million to continue the fight against wildfires. Wildfires that raged across the state last summer, and new fires that raged in recent weeks, have already consumed about $39 million from the state’s Emergency Fire Suppression Account.
“The amount of acreage we have burned in Wyoming is unprecedented,” Gordon said. “I hate that term because I end up having to use it a lot this year, but that’s true. It’s extraordinary.”
The Elk Fire and Pack Trail Fire recently emerged in Sheridan and Teton counties in the past two weeks. The former fire is currently burning just over 76,000 hectares and is 15% contained. The House Draw Fire, which ignited on Aug. 21 and was 94% contained by Sept. 9, was the second largest in Wyoming history, Gordon said. According to InciWeb, it burned more than 174,500 hectares.
The Elk Fire has negatively impacted the water supply of Dayton, Ranchester and Sheridan, Gordon said. Wyoming is working with both the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Quality to address water supply and safety concerns for residents, the governor said. A list of resources is currently being compiled and is available at bit.ly/wy-wildfire.
