Barlow Names Three Leaders for Cheyenne Administration

Gov.-elect Eric Barlow announced on Tuesday the first three members of his incoming administration. He named Erin Taylor as chief of staff, Walter Eggers as his nominee for attorney general, and Eydie Trautwein as chief operating officer. These three individuals will hold senior positions responsible for managing the governor's office, overseeing state legal matters, and coordinating daily operations.

Barlow said his goal is a government that listens, spends responsibly, and delivers dependable service. He stated that Taylor, Eggers, and Trautwein understand the state and bring the experience and judgment needed to lead that work. He plans to count on them to build strong relationships, address problems directly, and keep the administration focused on serving the people of Wyoming.

Taylor will lead the governor's staff and work with the chief operating officer to coordinate the administration's agenda with lawmakers, state agencies, and communities. She has more than 20 years of public policy experience at federal, state, and local levels. In 2015, she founded Taylor Strategies & Consulting after serving eight years as executive director of the Wyoming Taxpayers' Association.

Her previous positions include statewide campaign manager for Sen. Mike Enzi's 2014 primary campaign and executive director of the Wyoming Association of Community College Trustees. Her work has focused on energy and regulatory policy, business advocacy, and association leadership. Taylor earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wyoming in economics and regulatory and environmental economics. She has also held leadership roles with the Wyoming Business Alliance and Wyoming Community Foundation and received gubernatorial appointments to the Wyoming Arts Council and Wyoming Lottery Corporation.

Eggers, a Laramie native, would become Wyoming's attorney general if confirmed by the Senate. He brings more than two decades of legal experience, including work in prosecution, private practice, and legal education. After graduating from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1998, Eggers began practicing in Cheyenne as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. He joined Holland & Hart in 2000 and became a partner in 2003.

He led the firm's Cheyenne office and later its Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Practice Group, overseeing more than 400 lawyers and legal professionals. His practice included administrative law, state and local taxation, litigation, and appeals. He remained a partner through 2019. Since 2018, Eggers has taught professional responsibility, evidence, and oil and gas law at the University of Wyoming College of Law. He also has served on the Wyoming Access to Justice Commission and worked with Equal Justice Wyoming, organizations focused on improving access to legal services. His honors include the Wyoming State Bar's John M. Burnam Extraordinary Service Award. Trautwein will serve as chief operating officer, helping manage the governor's office and coordinate the implementation of administration priorities.

Trautwein most recently served as Wyoming's deputy state auditor, where she worked on statewide financial and administrative systems. Her responsibilities included coordinating a major upgrade of the state's financial, human resources, and payroll systems. She previously served as director of legal resources and judicial education for the Wyoming Supreme Court, where she supported judicial training and court improvement efforts. Trautwein earned a law degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2008 and a bachelor's degree in English from the university in 2004.

Barlow's transition team is accepting inquiries from people interested in serving in the incoming administration. Information about employment opportunities and the transition is available at governor-elect.wyo.gov/transition.