Lawley finding her own way following in Greear's footsteps

WORLAND —Worland resident Martha Lawley will head to Cheyenne on Jan. 5 to complete freshman orientation with the largest freshman legislative class for the Wyoming Legislature.

As the state representative for House District 27, Lawley knows she has some prestigious shoes to fill with 12-year representative and current Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Greear retiring when his term ends Dec. 31.

“He had a fantastic 12 years. He did a good job and I really do appreciate that. I have seen more and more how he has in some ways set me up for success, because he did a good job,” Lawley said. “I’m walking into and kind of standing on the shoulders of what he accomplished.

Just as Greear did in his 12 years, Lawley sees the importance of developing relationships with fellow legislators, with her constituents and with other agencies.

“It challenges me sometimes because [Greear] was very good at building those relationships. I get the benefit of that, but I have to prove myself. I have to find my own way, but I’m not doing it from a deficit, I’m doing it from a positive and I appreciate that,” Lawley said. “I feel like I will continue to build on what he started.”

She said she views the Legislature as a team sport so she has also been busy meeting with government agencies and industry representatives in order to build the relationships for that team. This included meeting with the Worland City Council last week, officials from the mining industry and later this week in Cody she will meet with county commissioners from around the Big Horn Basin and fellow legislators in the Basin.

The executive branch, the governor, she said, by design has the ability to act more independently. The Legislature’s intended design is to be a collaborative process.

Also as team building, Lawley has felt the importance of getting up to speed with what her two committees have been up to in the interim. She was recently assigned to the Education Committee, which she said was her first choice, and to the Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee.

The team building and relationship building with her constituents began during the election. While she was unopposed, to her surprise, she was able to speak candidly to people about their concerns and their issues.

One issue that she kept hearing about is the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act and the fact that it was not debated in the House during the 2022 budget session. The bill was passed over from the Senate after the third reading deadline so the Speaker of the House chose to keep the bill in his desk and not allow it to be introduced during the 2022 session.

“I’m being sent there to vote and participate in the process, ultimately to have a voice. When things don’t come to the floor I don’t get a chance to exercise that voice,” Lawley said.

GOALS

“I am really honored and with that honor comes responsibility and I fully recognize that and that is why I have set some goals. I am very goal oriented,” Lawley said.

Her first goal is competency. She wants to go into the legislative session prepared to effectively represent House District 27.

She said she knows she has a lot to learn and realizes she may disappoint some people but she hopes her constituents will give her a chance to explain why she voted a certain way. “The why matters,” she said.

Not only has she been reading up on her committee work but she is also reading the rules and procedures to help her be a more effective legislator.

She wants to be responsive to her constituents. “I’m not saying I’m going to necessarily be able to meet everyone’s expectations in that, but I want to be responsive.” Lawley said both the state and U.S. constitutions begin with the phrase “We the people” and it is important for people to understand they have a role to play. She said when she is in Cheyenne at the Legislature she will not have a lot of time to do a lot of research for her constituents but they can help her and themselves by doing the research on the legislative website, wyoleg.gov.

She said interim committee meetings are on YouTube and the legislature will be livestreaming on YouTube or people can go back and listen. Bills can be found on the website.

“The process is for [the people] too. There are amazing resources available and it is not hard to follow the Legislature now.”

She asks her constituents to “do their homework” and then contact her with their thoughts and concerns.

Her third goal is to be humble. “I don’t know it all. First and foremost is listening and learning. I have been thankful and very encouraged by the members of the Legislature who have contacted me,” she said. Legislators have offered assistance and been available for a variety of questions.

Fourth is to work hard. “I am mentally and emotionally preparing for a very intense time. Being ready for that and putting in the time.”

Finally, she said she wants to develop productive and positive relationships with fellow legislators both on the House and Senate side.

“It’s a team sport. My commitment is to listen to each side. I want to know and understand,” Lawley said, adding that she wants to develop relationships so she can effectively advocate her position and why something is so important to her district.

“I want to be an effective advocate and I believe through all my years practicing law that it is easier to advocate if there is a positive relationship,” she said.

This is the first in a two-part series on Rep. Lawley’s first term as a state representative. Next week will look at the Education Committee and why it was her first choice and the bill she is working on as her first bill to hopefully be introduced.