Jim Geringer
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James (Jim) Geringer (born April 22, 1944) was the 30th Governor of Wyoming. Geringer was raised on a farm in Wheatland, Wyoming. He attended Kansas State University, earning a degree in mechanical engineering. He served for ten years in the United States Air Force before retiring. He briefly worked at a power generating station in Laramie, Wyoming before purchasing a ranch.
In 1982, Geringer successfully ran as a Republican for a seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives. After serving there for six years, he won a seat in the Wyoming Senate. In 1994, State Senator Geringer was elected as Wyoming's governor.
Geringer was generally a conservative throughout his political career. As governor, he helped pass laws that regulated class action lawsuits, reformed bankruptcy laws, toughened crime laws, legalized charter schools, and lowered taxes. However, he broke with the Republican Party in supporting environmental rulings and the Equal Rights Amendment.
Geringer is a character in the play The Laramie Project, about the Matthew Shepard murder and trial, which was a major news event while he was Governor. He makes a statement in the play about being opposed to a hate crimes law, which President Bill Clinton strongly supported, as did Judy Shepard, mother of the murdered college student.
[edit] External links
http://wyoarchives.state.wy.us/governor/geringer.htm http://www.issues2002.org/Jim_Geringer.htm
| Preceded by Mike Sullivan (D) |
Governor of Wyoming
Jim Geringer(R) |
Succeeded by Dave Freudenthal (D) |
