JOHN WETZEL

I have lived in Powell since 1992. My wife Shelby and I have been married for 35 years. She grew up here and together we built our life and raised three children – Claire, Quin, and Ben – in this community. We are fortunate that two of our kids still call Wyoming home, working as a teacher and a paramedic. Our children’s spouses and two granddaughters round out the family. Wyoming is not just where I live. It is who I am.

 

By profession I spent over 30 years leading or guiding business enterprises. I recently retired as General Manager of Trebro Manufacturing, a sod harvesting equipment manufacturer. Prior to that, I coached emerging entrepreneurs as part of Impact307, and I worked for 25 years as General Manager of the Buyer's Guide, a regional shopper publication serving the Bighorn Basin. Running a business for a quarter century taught me things that no amount of political experience can replace — how to meet a payroll, manage a budget, serve customers, and keep an operation viable year after year. That background shapes how I think about economic development, government spending, and what Wyoming businesses need from their state
Legislature.

I graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in history and earned a master’s in industrial education from Clemson University in 1987. I have served in Powell city government for more than 20 years, including as Mayor. I am a founding member and past president of Habitat for Humanity in Powell, where we have built multiple homes for local families over the years. I have served on numerous civic and community boards throughout my time here. And now as a board member of Leadership Wyoming, I’m working to educate future leaders throughout the state.

 

I enjoy hunting, rafting and flyfishing, golfing, cycling, hiking, and camping. Sadly, there’s never seems to be enough spare time to enjoy the wonderful adventure Wyoming offers its citizens!

 

I am not a career politician. I am your neighbor. I am running because the Wyoming I love — practical, independent, community-minded, and results-oriented — deserves better representation in Cheyenne than it is getting.

During my time in city government, we brought broadband internet to Powell, built the community pool with a voter-approved sales tax, rebuilt Absaroka Street, and guided the city through rebuilding our substation after a serious fire. These were not political victories. They were things we did together to fulfill the responsible job of city government.