More than 30 political candidates descended upon Cody for Politics in the Park, drawing voters from around the basin for the opportunity to meet, learn and voice their concerns.
Saturday’s event, the first of its kind, saw Cody High School’s Youth For Justice club invite candidates from across the political spectrum to meet directly with the electorate. Voters from Park, Washakie and Big Horn counties mingled with candidates for offices ranging from clerkships and district attorney offices to prospective county commissioners and state-level representatives to leading gubernatorial candidates and would-be federal office holders in the house and senate.
YFJ witnesses official filing
Before the day’s events kicked off in earnest, gubernatorial candidate Eric Barlow sat with YFJ members and officially filed his candidacy with the secretary of state’s office.
Wade Bower, YFJ chair, called it “quite the experience,” and said he appreciated Barlow’s allowing the group to share in the moment.
“I truly believe he will be a governor aimed at making Wyoming better for the youth, which is so important,” Bower said, who hopes Barlow succeeds in his bid to become governor. “Being part of his filing, watching him sign a promise to be good for Wyoming was exciting!”
Deb White, the group’s advisor, said the relationship between Barlow and the students had formed organically. One of the group’s members, Dylan Power, had attended Barlow’s first meet-and-greet in Cody last year, White recalled, “and Dylan asked, ‘What will you do to keep kids in Wyoming?’ and Barlow said, ‘You tell me.’”
Since that time, Barlow and the students have had multiple Zoom calls and in-person meetings with the students providing feedback on the candidate’s policies and offering insight on the issues they consider most important to helping young people remain in Wyoming long-term.
“They were very excited,” White said.
Students make a difference
White said the idea for Saturday’s rally was born from a series of conversations between Barlow and the students about the candidate’s platform and plan to keep kids in Wyoming, with Barlow asking the students what they wanted to see done to make Wyoming a better place to stay. At one point, White recalled, Barlow mentioned an ice cream social in a park in Gillette, from which he hails, for candidates and voters to mingle that the Cody kids found interesting.
When they asked Barlow if he would attend a similar event in Cody, he agreed and suggested the students reach out to other candidates about joining. They did.
Once students began contacting candidates and candidates began signing on in early April, White said a domino effect followed with more and more people agreeing to personally attend Saturday’s event or send surrogates in their stead. Largely…
Read More: Politics in park prove positive | Local News
