ROCK SPRINGS — Gubernatorial candidate Eric Barlow met with residents Saturday at Pin-Up Coffee inside the Historic Train Depot in downtown Rock Springs to hear from local constituents and discuss his platform.
Before heading to the Broadway Theater to watch the University of Wyoming Cowboys take on the North Dakota State University Bison on Oct. 3, Barlow responded to various questions from the Rocket Miner, ranging from workforce development and regulatory relief for small businesses to healthcare access, including mental health, and youth retention in Wyoming.
Workforce and education
When asked about specific first-year policies to create or retain jobs in the state, Barlow highlighted education as “a fundamental catalyst for economic opportunity.”
He voiced a desire to strengthen technical education programs across the state’s K-12 system through collaboration between the newly-elected superintendent of public instruction, local community colleges and the Wyoming Legislature. Barlow noted these initiatives could advance through the state budget process to ensure schools receive appropriate funding and resources to align with workforce needs.
The Wyoming Legislature’s 2027 session will be a general session; its next budget session will be in 2028.
Local businesses
Addressing small business growth without increasing state spending, Barlow emphasized maintaining a streamlined regulatory environment.
“What you want is an environment where if there’s things you need from the government, they deliver them in an efficient manner, and the rest of the time they stay out of your way,” Barlow said.
He said state and local executives must review existing regulation from licensing to municipal zoning to eliminate inefficiency and unnecessary administrative hurdles.
“Time is very important to businesses, so we have to be efficient (about) how we deliver services,” he said.
Rural healthcare, mental health
Barlow discussed challenges surrounding healthcare provider recruitment and retention in rural communities, referencing work stemming from the state’s healthcare strike team.
The team is currently summarizing recommendations to build a strategy combining legislative solutions, executive actions, and local efforts. Barlow suggested leveraging federal rural health transformation funds alongside community dollars to build sustainable healthcare systems.
He said mental health services are a critical focus for the state, and he plans to build upon the work initiated by Gov. Mark Gordon. He emphasized the need for robust systems spanning suicide prevention, care for those with severe mental illness, and better integration with law enforcement and the legal system, particularly along busy transport corridors like Interstate 80.
“We have a real lack of care for our youth, especially the highest levels of care — even many communities don’t have the basics,” Barlow said, stressing the importance of ensuring baseline mental health care across all communities while supporting local organizations doing the work.
Staying in Wyoming
To encourage young people to stay in Wyoming after graduation, Barlow pointed to building thriving communities with strong economies, relevant educational skill sets, and vibrant local support.
Recognizing downtown revitalization efforts throughout the state, he said local business growth, housing availability, and access to healthcare as “interconnected factors that give young families tangible reasons to build their futures in the state.”
According to Barlow, local financial institutions must have the lending capacity to support these efforts.
“With young people who want to have that opportunity, we should do everything we can to help them identify it and support it as they go forward,” he said.
Legislative experience
Reflecting on his extensive background as a state legislator, Barlow explained how his knowledge of state policy and established relationships with experts will help guide him as Wyoming’s next governor.
While legislators make laws and establish policy, Barlow views the governor’s role as executing those policies effectively while balancing necessary resources. He noted his familiarity with state boards — such as the State Loan and Investment Board — and federal delegations will strengthen those relationships.
When asked what single takeaway he hopes voters remember about his administration four years from now, Barlow said a few words about public engagement.
“I hope they will know they were always part of the conversations, and we did our best to make their lives better,” he said.