CHEYENNE (WNE) — On Friday at the Wyoming Association of Municipalities Gubernatorial Forum, Eric Barlow announced a plan to establish five regional offices for the governor across the state, bringing government closer to the people who need it.

“Cheyenne can feel just as far away as Washington, D.C., for a lot of people in this state,” Barlow said. “Our Wyoming citizens are raising families, running businesses, working long hours and living their lives. Government needs to do a better job getting out of the Capitol and into the communities it serves.”

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Barlow, a Republican state senator from Gillette who is running for governor, said that while Wyoming is proud of its citizen-led government, the distance can make it feel far away.

Barlow’s proposal would create a more consistent regional presence for the Governor’s Office, which should improve coordination on issues including economic development, infrastructure, local government concerns, agriculture, energy, health care access, emergency services, permitting and workforce needs, according to a news release from his campaign.

Under Barlow’s plan, staff that would normally be located in Cheyenne would instead be hired from the regional communities around the state, with the goal of making government work better by improving communication and identifying problems earlier, supported by staff that’s embedded and knows the area.

“Government works best when it is closest to the people,” Barlow said.

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