CHEYENNE — The recent chaos and lack of learning in the Wyoming Legislature has made Dan Zwonitzer believe that now is not the time to step down after nearly 20 years serving the residents of House District 43.
That’s why he is running for an 11th two-year term.
Zwonitzer said the Legislature has had a significant ideological divide within the Republican Party for the past two years that has severely limited compromise and conversation.
“We no longer work together to promote ideas and build Wyoming,” Zwonitzer said. “We’ve generally devolved into political games and sound bites, and aren’t getting work done for the people. So, I’d really like us to get back to the stability of Wyoming’s history, really since 1969.”
Zwonitzer said for the past 55 years, the state has experienced significant boom-and-bust cycles. So in good times, the state saves money so taxes don’t get raised in bad times.
“In the past two years, this new sentiment does reduce taxes, and any excess money is given directly back to the people, and that’s just not how our system works,” Zwonitzer said. “We’re not set up to do that — our Constitution doesn’t allow it.”
This past term, the House of Representatives had 28 freshmen out of 62 members, which is the second-largest turnover in a century in the number of House members, Zwonitzer said, so there’s a very steep learning curve that members are having a difficult time with.
He said about 75% of the members haven’t been through what’s generally considered a stable session of process, and few remember what the Legislature was like six years ago.
“I think it takes some stronger leadership,” Zwonitzer said. “I’ve been a committee chairman now for the past five terms, chairing through different committees. We have such a large number of freshmen and sophomores, there’s only 15 of us who have been there for three terms or more. So really just continuing to provide that knowledge base and understanding of how the process has worked for the past 20 years, that’s really what we need to encourage more civility.”
Zwonitzer has many objectives for his potential continuing tenure. One is reducing the cost of health care for both individuals and businesses, he said. He also wants to research and develop the mineral industry to keep the state’s coal, oil and gas industries as strong as possible.
In his past 20 years serving in the House, Zwonitzer has aided in the passing of bills helping health care workers, addressing mental health, supporting voting rights, counteracting discrimination, promoting oil and gas drilling, and addressing child abuse, suicide prevention and much more.
“It’s really been a privilege to serve for the past 20 years,” Zwonitzer said. “And it’s been difficult to see rock bottom, but the last term has been the most difficult and raucous. So I’m running again to try to keep the ship in the direction we’ve been on for the past 50 years, ensuring stability and Wyoming values.”
Visit the Wyoming Legislature’ website, wyoleg.gov/Legislators/2024/H/1141 , to view Zwonitzer’s full list of committees and sponsored bills.
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