Bill Sniffin speech to State GOP
May 11, 2002 in Jackson Hole

Introduction for Bill Sniffin

By State Rep. Del McOmie
Chairman, Bill Sniffin for Governor committee

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the man who I think will be our next governor of the state of Wyoming.

I have known Bill and Nancy Sniffin for over 30 years.

There are so many things I would like to tell you about him, but let me concentrate on just four things:

First, he is a family man. He and Nancy have four wonderful children and seven grandchildren.

Second, he knows hard work. He grew up as the second oldest of 11 kids and moved away from home a week after he graduated from high school.

Third, he is a communicator. When I was mayor and was the newspaper editor, we worked together to help our town. As many of you know, Lander was devastated by the bust of the 1980s. Bill Sniffin's ability to motivate our citizens and work economic development miracles helped make Lander the outstanding town it is today.

And finally, fourth, he is a consensus builder. I watched him in action as we tried to re-build our town. He was tireless in trying to get everybody together to do the right thing. He would be a wonderful governor when it would come to working with the Legislature. He would be the best friend we could ever imagine in that office.

Ladies and Gentleman, please give Bill Sniffin a warm welcome . . .

Bill Sniffin's speech to delegates

Thanks so much, Del.

And thanks to all of you for your kindnesses to Nancy and me during the past six months.

When we started this campaign, we were definitely political newcomers. But thanks to all of you, we have learned a lot and we have been having the times of our lives.

And I promise you we will continue to work hard on this campaign.
So far, we have visited nearly every city and town.

Besides the fun of getting to know all of you better, I can't tell you enough how much enjoyment Nancy and I have gotten from spending quality time on the campaign trail with:

Ray and Debbie Hunkins
Eli and Lorraine Bebout
Steve and Marion Watt

I intend to run an issues-oriented campaign and I can't wait for these televised debates to start.

I really liked that slogan that was used for this year's winter Olympics:

"What unites us is far greater than what divides us." I think that describes the four candidates for governor and all the people in this room.

I spent my career being non-political - I thought that was the right thing to do as a journalist. I like to say that I am NOT a politician, but I know politics.

But you have four candidates who truly do come to this office from quite strikingly different backgrounds and different approaches.

The next 101 days are going to be very interesting to all of us.

SNIFFIN'

I have been an editor and reporter all my adult life. I always thought it interesting that with a name like SNIFFIN, I would be a reporter.

Dwight Eisenhower always sent a newspaper reporter's job was to separate the wheat from the chaff. - I always liked that.

Then he said, reporters always printed the chaff. - I didn't like that!

Coming from a family of 11 kids, I learned early-on that a wishbone is no substitute for a backbone. I have worked hard all my life and over time Nancy and I ended up being involved in the ownership of more than 20 newspapers, magazines, print shops and other businesses around the region.

Well, I have been SNIFFIN' around Wyoming for some time now and here are what people are telling me:

They like the fact that I am a businessman - not a lawyer (sorry, Ray!)
They like the fact that I am NOT a politician.
They like the fact that I know economic development, first-hand.
They like the fact that I am very pro-minerals, yet I am not a member of the minerals industry.

My friends, Nancy and I look forward to spending quality time with you the rest of the way on this campaign trail.

So far, we have distributed 254,000 newsletters around the state and run 800 TV commercials promoting our candidacy. We intend to win this election.

We plan to do many other very, very interesting ads during the campaign, too.

VALUES

Now, when you decide to do something as serious as running for governor on the Republican ticket, you look deep inside yourself to find your purest values.

When I did that, they came to:

• Pro life
  
• Right to work
  
• Local control
  
• Multiple Use

I was also very comfortable with other core values that I viewed as Republican also:

• Spirit of entrepreneurship
  
• A sense that Wyoming is different - that is good
  I like things small - I like small population, small business, small towns, small farms, small ranches. I like the description that Wyoming is like a medium-sized city with incredibly long streets.
  
• I approach problems from a business perspective
• I like what George W. Bush and Dick Cheney and Gail Norton are doing and their approach to getting things done.

It was very easy for me to enter this race as a Republican candidate for governor because the party's principles are the same as mine. It is as simple as that.

TIME TO WRAP UP

Although my family carries that odd last name, most of our heritage is actually Irish. And I would like to leave you with my favorite Irish toast:

May the road rise up to meet you.
And may the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine softly upon your face.
And may the rain fall silently upon your fields.
And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand

Thank you all again for your kindnesses to Nancy and me

God Bless you
God Bless Wyoming
God Bless America

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Authorized by William C. Sniffin
Contributions or gifts to Bill Sniffin for Governor 2002 are not tax-deductible.
Bill Sniffin for Governor - P.O. Box 900 ­ Lander, WY 82520 (307) 332-3111, ext. 17