Wyoming state congressional candidates visit Thermopolis

Born and raised in Rock Springs, Ryan Greene is running as the only Democratic candidate for United States Congress in Wyoming.

Greene has 18 years of experience working in Wyoming's energy industry through his family's business, Greene's Energy Group. Wyoming energy is one of Greene's most important political platforms and he hopes to see some changes in the upcoming election, he said.

"Wyoming's got the same problems that we've had since I've been alive," he said. "We've got a boom-and-bust economy and our kids leave the state every year. When we look for answers, we see pointing fingers and placing blame."

Greene said the ten GOP candidates running for the United States Congress in Wyoming are not proposing anything new.

"We're just hitting the repeat button," he said.

The three main issues that are driving Greene's campaign are energy and economy, taking care of your neighbor and challenging Wyoming's political status quo.

"We've got a great future with Wyoming energy," Greene said. "We need to be leading the effort instead of believing these fairytales about rolling back regulations. We need practical, realistic measures."

As for the 'Taking Care of your Neighbor' platform, Greene intends to defend earned benefits such as Social Security and Medicare. Greene said he also wants to challenge the state's political status quo.

"It's been 40 years since Wyoming sent a Democrat to Congress," he said. "And what do we have to show for it? It's time to challenge the Republicans, who have taken voters for granted. We have candidates in this race voting to privatize public lands, to take away vacation pay and expand the federal government. These things are not the values of Wyoming, so we want to challenge that."

Greene said he is the only welder in the race with a background in energy. He also said he will work across party lines.

"I'm the only one that will admit I'll work with both parties in the Congress for the people of Wyoming," he said. "The job is to represent Wyoming's people, Wyoming's industries and Wyoming's values."

As a working man, Greene said he understands the jobs and business that makes Wyoming thrive.

"It's my livelihood but it's also the jobs that Wyoming works," he said. "I'm a working man for a working state."

If elected, Greene said he intends to secure a seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

"The first thing I would do is secure a seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee," he said. "Then I would form a bipartisan alliance with other energy states - blue, red or purple - and explore new markets for our energy products."

Voters need to make the candidates earn it by looking under the hood at the issues, Greene said.

The primary election will be held Aug. 16 and the general election will be held Nov. 8.