CHEYENNE – Wyoming Secretary of State Ed Buchanan, of Lingle, has been in office since March 2018 after he was appointed to the position by then-governor Matt Mead after the resignation of Ed Murray, but there’s a different feeling in the office this week. 

Surrounded by his family, Buchanan recited the Oath of Office on Monday and officially began his first full term as Secretary of State after winning election on Nov. 6. While he’s technically been on the job for a while, Buchanan said it feels different now, after winning election. 

“There’s not a lot of difference in the last 10 months and now, but I have to think that it’s a little more special now, having been elected statewide by the people of Wyoming,” he said. “Being able to go through a formal inauguration ceremony and see the excitement of a new administration and the other officials who will serve with me, I’m probably the most excited I have been than I have been in the whole 10 months. It’s a special time, there’s a lot of hope for the future.”

The election season was doubly stressful for Buchanan. In addition to running for office, as the sitting Secretary of State, Buchanan was the head administrator for the entire election. 

“The election process is somewhat complicated when you’re the administrator of the election,” he said. “Right off the bat, we had to get started with our county clerks to get equipment ready and get our candidates registered, we worked with clerks to get the ballots printed. That was one of the tasks that I first jumped into when I was appointed in March.”

For his first orders of business, Buchanan is monitoring the 2019 legislative session and formulating a process to simply Universal Commercial Code filings. He is also fleshing out the details for Invest Now, a program that will pair potential private investors with small business owners and entrepreneurs. 

Buchanan has previously served in the Wyoming House of Representative and was the Speaker of the House until he retired in 2013 – but Buchanan said reciting the oath was still a humbling experience, and it made him proud to work for the people of Wyoming. 

“When you say the words that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and of Wyoming, I think that’s the most significant part of the oath, because those are the documents that are the foundation of the Republic,” he said. “To have so many people in the audience, and your family, and your hand on the bible, it just really hits home how special public service is. 

“In Wyoming, it’s not for the fame or glory. It’s because you love Wyoming and you want good things for the citizens and you love your state.”