I live in Evanston, where I have resided for 31 years. In total, I have lived in Wyoming for 32 years. I was born in American Fork, Utah, to parents whose deep Wyoming roots trace back to my grandparents and great-grandparents, who homesteaded in Otto, Wyoming. This multi-generational connection to our state shapes my lifelong commitment to Uinta County.

I will be 64 years old on Election Day. At this stage in my life, I bring over three decades of deep roots in Uinta County alongside the wisdom, professional maturity, and real-world experience needed to lead. My age reflects a lifetime of service as a special education teacher, a former journalist, and a community advocate. I am running for the State Senate not to build a political career or chase higher office, but to protect our families, defend our property rights, and ensure Wyoming remains a free, prosperous sanctuary for the next generation of our children and grandchildren.

Chris Katzl is a certified special education teacher and Republican candidate for Wyoming State Senate District 15, bringing over two decades of experience working with Uinta County families. A former journalist and editor, Katzl emphasizes community-first leadership, aiming to apply his skills in navigating complex systems to advocate for local property rights and fiscal accountability. For more details, visit the Ballotpedia Profile for Chris Katzl

Wyoming faces fiscal volatility due to reliance on mineral revenues alongside rising cost-of-living challenges for residents. My proposed platform aims to implement disciplined budgeting, enhance property tax protections, defend constitutional rights, and support pro-life initiatives with compassion.

The Legislature must expand access by cutting regulatory red tape and proactively educating the public on existing coverage avenues. Having navigated the pre-Medicare gap as a retired teacher, I know affordable care exists through options like the federal marketplace. However, the system is far too complex. Finding coverage shouldn't take years of trial and error, or depend on an insider showing you "which buttons to push."As State Senator, I will push for state-backed educational initiatives and localized resource hubs so Uinta County families can easily find and secure affordable care. Furthermore, my special education background drives my commitment to protecting our critical rural hospitals from closing, lowering prescription drug costs through market transparency, and cutting regulations to recruit more doctors to Wyoming without expanding government bureaucracy

I strictly oppose transferring Wyoming’s public lands to out-of-state corporate monopolies or private equity giants like BlackRock. Our lands must be managed exclusively for verified, long-term Wyoming residents who possess deep roots in our communities and lack predatory motives.We see this dangerous trend in Uinta County with the massive Prometheus data center planned near Evanston. For years, global financial interests have plotted resource-heavy developments on our landscape. These projects threaten to drain local water supplies, strain our electrical grid, drive up utility rates, and erode our rich agricultural and ranching heritage.When globalist entities treat our open spaces as an extraction machine, local voices get ignored. As State Senator, I will stand as an iron-clad wall against these maneuvers. I will demand strict residency verification, enforce total transparency, and block out-of-state exploitation. Wyoming must stay Wyoming for Wyoming citizens.

Wyoming sits on massive budget surpluses tied up in complex reserve accounts, yet local governments face funding uncertainty. We must reform how we manage this excess capital. I propose establishing a permanent sovereign fund modeled after the Alaska Permanent Fund. By capturing our mineral revenue surpluses and letting investments compound, we can achieve true fiscal stability.The interest generated from this permanent fund can directly offset local municipal shortfalls and fund essential infrastructure. This allows the Legislature to grant permanent, comprehensive property tax relief to homeowners without stripping funding from local police, rural roads, or public schools. We must stop burying surpluses in bureaucratic backrooms and start utilizing our state's wealth to protect Wyoming taxpayers and their home equity.

The Wyoming Legislature should approach economic development through a free-market lens, adhering to a Milton Friedman philosophy: the government’s role is to get out of the way, eliminate red tape, and maintain minimal regulations necessary to protect citizens' rights. True growth comes from small businesses and local workers, not top-down state planning or picking winners and losers with taxpayer dollars.However, a hands-off approach does not mean corporate lawlessness. The legislature must act as a barrier when predatory out-of-state entities, global private equity giants, or resource-heavy developments threaten our local resources, utility grid, or resident home equity.Cheyenne must focus on creating a stable, predictable, and low-tax climate. Government should never run the economy, but it must vigorously defend property rights and personal liberties so Wyoming citizens can thrive.

My campaign values are rooted in a lean, community-first approach. I refuse to be bought by special interests or out-of-state political action committees. My campaign relies on direct phone calls, personal conversations, and a strong digital footprint.We proved the power of a grassroots, low-cost approach when my digital push mobilized Uinta County citizens to defeat the massive, sneaky $40.6 million sales tax hike last November. We didn't need deep-pocketed donors to protect taxpayers; we just needed the truth, local organization, and a clear voice.Wyoming's monitoring system should focus on ensuring transparency, particularly regarding dark money and out-of-state special interest groups trying to buy local elections. We must make campaign finance disclosures simple and accessible. Elections should be decided by the voters of District 15, not by the size of a candidate's war chest or wealthy outside influence.