News of my promotion as editor of the Star-Tribune earlier this summer has elicited dozens of comments, e-mails, calls and letters from old friends and even people I don't know from across the state. The kind words of congratulations were unexpected and gratifying.

Some of the well-wishers have taken note of the news accounts that pointed out I'm the first Wyoming native to fill this job for many years. Comments such as, "It's about time a Wyoming guy was editor," or, "I'm glad to see a Wyoming guy get the job," have come from a number of people.

Those sorts of statements can be read several ways. Perhaps the people were simply expressing pride in a fellow Wyomingite's achievement. Maybe they had seen past flaws in the newspaper that they perceived to have resulted from a lack of understanding about the state by the news staff. Taken to the extreme, the words could be interpreted as a declaration that no one but a "Wyoming guy" has any business being editor of the state's largest newspaper.

At the time, I didn't give the comments much thought. But that has changed. The statement by Republican U.S. House candidate Cynthia Lummis after she won the primary election earlier this month - the one that implied Democrat Gary Trauner doesn't have "rural values integrated fully into" his "soul" because he grew up in New York, even though he has lived here for 18 years - has sparked considerable debate around the state. And it has prompted some introspection on my part.

I address this topic not to beat up further on Cynthia. She already has said she regrets making the statement, and that it doesn't reflect what she really thinks.

The problem is that, unfortunately, I suspect she simply articulated something that many native Wyomingites believe about transplants to the state. And it betrays an unhealthy attitude that in some ways holds our state back.

There is, of course, an explanation for the notion that someone who isn't native to the state - or who hasn't lived here for many years - is incapable of being a "true" Wyomingite. The state's history is replete with examples of out-of-staters coming here to profit from our natural resources and then leaving. I grew up during the boom of the '70s and early '80s, when the "Wyoming Native" bumper stickers became popular. They were a sign that we felt we were being overrun by people who didn't give a darn about the state.

It's still irritating when someone moves here and makes little attempt to learn about Wyoming, its culture, history and geography.

But the fact is that most of the transplants who live in the state for any length of time stay here because they like the place. If they didn't put down roots, of course, the wind would blow them away (I can get away with disparaging our wind because I'm a native).

One danger for the state is that distrust of or contempt for "outsiders" can lead to a closed-minded mentality that rejects anything that isn't "Wyoming" - the idea that, by gosh, we know what's best for the state, and we don't need anyone to tell us how to do things. That keeps us from accepting ideas that might actually benefit us.

Right now, though, the biggest hindrance to the state from a distrust of transplants is the fact that it discourages people from coming, and staying. We badly need more workers - permanent workers - to help our economy grow and diversify. We should welcome new folks who want to make their homes here, and show them why we think it's such a great place.

Yes, I'm proud to be a "Wyoming guy." But a person should be able to earn that lofty title without being born here.

Do you have a question or a comment for Editor Chad Baldwin? You can call him at 266-0545, or send e-mail to chad.baldwin@trib.com.