Dan’s Bio

Dan Zwonitzer is a 5th generation resident of Cheyenne, Wyoming. His family homesteaded south and east of Cheyenne in the 1870's and has been active in the Cheyenne community since. Growing up, Dan learned the art of auctioneering from his grandfather Mel, and was helping conduct auction sales by age 16. At 18, he was awarded People's Choice for Best Auctioneer at the annual Wyoming Auctioneer's Association Convention. Dan now helps manage his family's auction business in Cheyenne and conducts benefit auctions throughout the region.

Dan's interest in public service sparked in high school, where he reorganized and later chaired the East High Young Republicans chapter, worked on the Geringer for Governor campaign and organized a school-wide canned food drive and two blood drives. He graduated from Cheyenne East High School and attended Georgetown University in Washington, DC where he received degrees in Government and Classical History. He returned to Wyoming in August, 2002 to work in non-profit management. That fall, he was elected as a Republican Precinct Chair, and was asked to lead the Senior High Sunday School class at the First United Methodist Church where he is a 5th generation member. He also began his involvement with Cheyenne Youth Alternatives and became active in Cheyenne Young Professionals.

He was hired by Governor Freudenthal as his natural resources policy analyst during the Governor's first year in office. In 2004, Dan transferred to the Wyoming Department of Agriculture where he served as an Agricultural Program Coordinator and later Special Projects Coordinator for the Department.

At age 24, with the support of his family and friends, he chose to run for Wyoming's 43rd House District Seat, encompassing south-central Laramie County and eastern Cheyenne. Upon election, Dan became the youngest Wyoming legislator elected since 1978. He is now serving his second term in the Wyoming Legislature and is a member of the Agriculture, Public Lands & Water Resources Committee and the Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee. He also serves as the legislative designee on the Wyoming Workforce Development Council and serves as an ex-officio member of the State Building Commission.

Representative Zwonitzer was recently selected as the 2008 Director of the American Legion's Wyoming Boys State, a program that promotes civic and military understanding to the best and brightest of Wyoming's young men. He is also serving as the Wyoming Co-Chair for the Giuliani Presidential Campaign and will be seeking the delegate nomination to the Republican National Convention from Laramie County.

Dan enjoys hiking, horseback riding, playing bridge and watching college basketball. He is a former 4-H club leader, water polo collegiate swimmer and small business owner. In 2006, he was selected by the American Council of Young Political Leaders to be a delegate to Australia, where he spent a month traveling and learning the Australian political system.

Representative Dan Zwonitzer announced his intention to seek the U.S. House Seat on November 20th, 2007. His Exploratory Committee and volunteer staff are actively working to make Representative Zwonitzer Wyoming's next United States Congressman.