By Marcus Huff
Staff Writer 

Cheney challenger Greene whistlestops in Worland

 

September 16, 2016

Marcus Huff

WORLAND – "Look, all I'm asking is that Wyoming voters give me two years. If you don't like the results you can vote me out, but if you vote for [Liz] Cheney, she'll use all of her resources to stay in Congress for decades," remarked Ryan Greene on his Thursday visit to Worland, during a "tailgate tour" of northern Wyoming.

For the Democrat from Rock Springs, facing Cheney on the ballot on Nov. 8 for the state's lone U.S. House seat to be vacated by Cynthia Lummis, is an uphill battle, especially as a Democrat in a traditionally Republican state.

"This has never been about challenging ideologies or beliefs, but doing what's right for Wyoming," said Greene, who considers himself a "Wyoming Democrat," equally concerned with gun rights and energy issues as he is the protection of personal choice and public lands. "The issues I care about don't really fit into either party," said Greene. "The goal is to get to Congress and work across the aisle to challenge policies when they don't look like they can benefit Wyoming. There's already a huge disconnect to Washington because of all of the broken promises of the past."

A self-professed "political junkie," Greene has followed the careers and platforms of the state politicians that have come before him, while working through the ranks as an energy professional. Starting with his father's one-pickup oil field services business based out of Rock Springs, Greene has worked as an oil field roustabout, welder and project manager. As operations director, Greene has guided Greene's Energy Services into a Tri-state energy support company, with hundreds of employees.

"Energy is boom or bust in Wyoming, and we need to be ready to diversify inside the market," notes Greene. "The blueprint is already there; we need to create regional development programs that create a partnership with the feds to bring our resources, whether it be taxes or the ability to recruit new companies, back to Wyoming."

Using the case of Tesla as an example, Greene points out that Wyoming can't afford to turn away industry. "Wyoming didn't even make a bid to recruit Tesla to the state. We need to stop that, but it starts with technology and infrastructure," said Greene. "Kentucky and Ohio used to be single-commodity states but they upped their game by investing in roads and better internet to land new business. I've worked in coal and oil, I know. We should be doing the same."

Although he has gained support and received outreach from Wyoming Republicans in his bid against Cheney, Greene realizes some of his positions put him on the defense with more traditionally conservative voters.

"I respect both sides of the argument, and I'm pro-choice, but only because I don't believe that choice belongs to the federal government," said Greene. "I don't want to be the one to make that choice between a woman's life and a baby's."

Although Greene has challenged Cheney to a series of five debates before the Nov. 8 election (she declined), the candidate is still travelling the state meeting voters and pushing toward final phone banking and radio and television appearances to introduce himself to voters.

Standing on the corner of Ninth and Big Horn in Worland, waving at vehicles and handing out bumper stickers and buttons that advertise "Cheney for Virginia" (a tongue-in-cheek jab at Cheney's upbringing outside of Wyoming), Greene holds out hope that voters will realize the actual capabilities of a freshman congressman.

"You can promise all the stuff in the world, but traditionally freshmen to congress get very little done until they work to learn the process," said Greene. "Liz Cheney may outspend me and my campaign, but she'll never outwork us."

 
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