Bien brings message of ‘returning Wyoming to the people’ in Lovell visit

Gubernatorial candidate focuses on taxes, energy and government accountability

Republican gubernatorial candidate Brent Bien brought a message of limited government and individual liberty to Lovell last week, telling a local audience that his campaign is centered on “returning Wyoming to the people.”

Speaking alongside his wife, Sue, at the Big Horn County Annex meeting room Thursday, Bien introduced himself as “a principled conservative Republican,” defining that as “someone who has an unwavering belief in individual sovereignty and self-governance.

“We are the freest when the people are the freest,” he said.

A retired Marine Corps officer with 28 years of service, Bien said his decision to run for governor grew out of frustration with how Wyoming responded to COVID-19.

“This was never a bucket list item for me,” he said. “But when I saw how quickly people were willing to give up their constitutional liberties for false narratives, it changed everything for me.”

Property taxes and state spending

A central piece of Bien’s campaign is a ballot initiative to cut residential property taxes by 50% on primary residences.

“Nobody should be taxed out of their home,” he said. “This is a blue-collar, retirement state, and we’ve got people who raised their families here who are now struggling to stay in their homes.”

Bien said the measure would reduce state revenue by a relatively small portion and argued that Wyoming has the financial capacity to absorb the change. 

“All of the residential property tax is about $625 million,” he said. “That’s roughly 3% of total state revenue. We made almost $1.9 billion in interest last year alone.”

When asked about the impact on services such as libraries, senior centers and law enforcement, Bien said the issue is not lack of money but lack of transparency.

“We have not done a full-blown statewide audit since 1989,” he said. “The taxpayers deserve to know the final resting place of every tax dollar.

“It’s an accountability issue,” he added. “We’ve got to pull back the covers on what’s really going on.”

Energy and economy

Bien repeatedly returned to energy policy as the key to Wyoming’s future.

“What built this state will carry us into the future,” he said, pointing to coal, oil, natural gas and other mineral resources.

He said Wyoming’s economy has lagged in recent years.

“Our GDP growth has averaged under 1%,” he said. “The national average is more than three times that. We’ve got to change that.”

Bien was critical of wind energy development, saying he would oppose additional turbines on state land, noting, “We’re not bringing any more wind turbines in on state land under my leadership.”

He also questioned the long-term value of renewable energy projects, stating, “There are a lot of questions that need to be asked.”

At the same time, he emphasized expanding traditional energy production and opening new markets.

“We’ve got 300 to 400 years of resources under our feet,” he said. “We need to maximize what we have.”

Public lands and water

Bien took a firm stance against selling public lands.

“Absolutely opposed to it,” he said.

On water rights, he was equally direct.

“Water is gold in this state,” he said. “It is not a commodity. It is necessary for life.”

He said Wyoming must hold firm in future negotiations over the Colorado River Compact, noting, “I would never go above our original allocation. We are not responsible for other states’ mismanagement.”

Education discussion

Education prompted one of the more active exchanges of the evening.

Bien said Wyoming should expect stronger educational outcomes given its level of spending.

“We’re spending more than surrounding states, and we should be seeing higher results,” he said.

Audience members questioned some of his statistics and asked for specifics. Bien acknowledged he does not have all the answers but said he would rely on Wyoming residents to hold him accountable and maintain high expectations.

“I won’t settle for anything less than our kids being number one in the nation,” he said.

He also said he wants to see more critical thinking and career training, stating, “I don’t want a state of just workers. I want a state of thinkers who can use their hands.”

On issues such as food insecurity, Bien said Wyoming communities already play a strong role.

“We do a really good job of taking care of each other,” he said, suggesting that the community members and churches should do most of the work.

He said the government has a role but should be limited and accountable.

“There has to be accountability in any program,” he said. “But I fully acknowledge there are people who go through hard times.”

Leadership and campaign approach

Bien said his leadership style is shaped by his military experience. “My whole adult life has been about leadership,” he said. “I’m a ‘trust and empower’ guy.”

He emphasized that he does not align himself with political factions, stating, “I don’t solicit endorsements from anybody except the people. I’m not a group thinker.”

Asked about President Donald Trump, Bien said he supports his policies but would remain independent.

“I don’t work for anybody except the people of the state,” he said.

Bien closed by encouraging more civic involvement and voter participation.

“We have the government we have because we put it there,” he said. “If we’re not happy, we’ve got to change it.”

He said his campaign ultimately comes down to restoring trust, noting, “People have lost a lot of trust in government. That’s got to be restored.”

Bien said he plans to continue visiting communities across Wyoming, including the Big Horn Basin.

“You guys have the answers,” he told the audience. “I need to hear them.”