Candidates: Wyoming Governor

Matt Mead - Republican

Matthew Hansen Mead, 47, was born in Teton County, Wyoming. He was raised on the family ranch in a rural, small town environment. Matt is a conservative Republican with traditional western values. Matt, Carol, his wife of 18 years, and their children Mary (11) and Pete (10) live in Cheyenne.

Rancher: Matt’s great-grandparents homesteaded in Zenith, Wyoming, and his family still ranches in that area. Matt and Carol own and operate a ranching and farming business in Albany County and Goshen County. Matt is a 4th generation Wyoming rancher.

Law Career: Matt received his law degree from the University of Wyoming in 1987. In his 20-year legal career, Matt served as a prosecutor for Campbell County, an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Wyoming. He was also a partner in a private firm in Cheyenne for five years.

To learn more about Matt Mead, please visit his website at http://www.meadforgovernor.com/.

Leslie Petersen - Democrat

Leslie Petersen was born in Lovell, grew up in Dubois and graduated from Dubois High in a class of six. She attended the University of Wyoming in the 1958-59 school year and was on the rodeo team and was selected for the Spurs honor society. She grew up on the CM Ranch, one of the oldest dude ranches in Wyoming and also worked in the family hunting business in the fall. Her father, Les Shoemaker was the first President of the Wyoming Outfitters' Association. Petersen moved to Jackson in 1975 and her husband of 34 years is Henry (Hank) Phibbs, a Jackson attorney, who grew up in Casper and is currently serving as a Teton County Commissioner. They have two grown sons, Travis Petersen and daughter-in-law Kristi, of Wilson, and Monte Petersen of Pagosa Springs, CO.

Petersen is taking a leave of absence from her current position as Chair of the Wyoming Democratic Party. She retired from a real estate career in Jackson in 2008. She was a partner in Jackson Hole Realty, which was sold to Sotheby's International Realty in 2003. Leslie served as a Teton County Commissioner from mid-1983 through 1988. She served for eight years on the Wyoming Water Development Commission and as Governor Herschler's Legislative Liaison in the 1981 and 1982 legislative sessions.

She ran for Secretary of State in 1982 against Thyra Thompson and garnered 46+ percent of the statewide vote. In 1986, she chose to support Kathy Karpan for that position. Petersen has had a long interest in conservation in Wyoming and began her policy experience as a citizen lobbyist working on the Wyoming Environmental Quality Act, Industrial Siting Act and related issues in the mid-70's. She served as a Board Chair of the Wyoming Outdoor Council and Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance in the 80's.

To learn more about Leslie Petersen, please visit her website at http://www.peopleforpetersen.com/.

Mike Wheeler - Libertarian

Mike Wheeler, 46, a Casper businessman and resident for nearly 16 years.

Wheeler served on a city council in a tiny Colorado hamlet.

When he lived for a couple of years in Massachusetts, he was involved in several campaigns including the 1990-91 campaign for NOTA (None Of The Above).

Wheeler chose the Libertarian Party, he said, because there is so little difference between the two major parties.

The Libertarian Party makes a strong case for reducing the size of government, while both the Democratic and Republican parties are guilty of expanding government, Wheeler said.

Taylor H. Haynes M.D. - Write in Candidate

Taylor Haynes is a man who believes that it is character and faith, not empty promises that makes a difference when it comes to achieving goals and contributing to the community. He was born in 1946 and raised by his parents, Taylor and Lourie Haynes, on a produce farm in Louisiana, along with three sisters and one brother. He learned that hard work, honesty, and self-discipline were the keys to achieving whatever goals he set his mind on. Haynes put himself through college and post-graduate studies by working as a laborer on a freight dock and as a stevedore. He married Barbara Brumfield in 1968 and began raising a family of four children Kenya, Ayodele, Taylor III, and Enioma. After graduating with a mechanical engineering degree from Southern University in 1969, he accepted an engineering job in Salt Lake City Utah at the Kennecott Copper Corporation Research Center.

In a search for greater autonomy in his career, Taylor left his engineering position and began medical school at the University of Utah while also supporting his young family. After completing his surgical residency in Urology, he moved to Cheyenne Wyoming to open his medical practice. He ran a very successful urology practice and became highly respected by his patients and other physicians in the community.

In addition to his career accomplishments, he was appointed by Governor Geringer to serve on the Board of Trustees of the University of Wyoming and, after his six-year term expired, was reappointed by Governor Dave Freudenthal for another six years.  He and his wife Beth recently took ownership of Mountain Benefit Associates, Wyoming’s oldest domiciled third party administrator of health benefits, located  in Worland Wyoming.

Dr. Haynes accomplishments in the field of agriculture are many. He has served as the President of the Laramie County Stock Growers Association, the President of the Pole Mountain Grazing Association and the Vice President of Wyoming Stock Growers Association. In 2006 he was presented with the Award of Merit by the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture for his contributions in the field. Also in 2006, he worked with several other ranchers to found the Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming (ICOW), an organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the Wyoming ranching industry, he currently serves as the president the board of directors.

By holding town hall meetings in his community and around the state, he has organized and provided leadership to ranchers and community members so they can present a united front regarding legislative issues that impact their livelihood.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of R-Calf USA, and as such is the Director for Region II which includes Wyoming Colorado and Utah.

To learn more about Dr. Taylor Haynes, please visit his website at http://www.haynesforgovernor.com/Haynes_for_Governor/Home.html