Redistricting permits David Northrup to file for Powell’s HD 25

Chris Good enters race

Posted 5/17/22

Former State Rep. David Northrup, R-Powell, finds the legislative redistricting bill passed in the final hours of the 2022 legislative session to his liking.

He will be on home turf in a bid to …

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Redistricting permits David Northrup to file for Powell’s HD 25

Chris Good enters race

Posted

Former State Rep. David Northrup, R-Powell, finds the legislative redistricting bill passed in the final hours of the 2022 legislative session to his liking.

He will be on home turf in a bid to return to the Legislature to represent Powell House District 25. Northrup filed his application of candidacy in the Secretary of State’s Office Saturday.

Northrup is a lifelong resident of the Willwood farming area south of Powell. Prior to the 2022 redistricting, which is required every 10 years, Northrup’s Willwood area was part of HD 50, a population of East Cody and the rural area between Cody and Powell.

Northrup served eight years between 2012 and 2020 as HD 50 representative in the State House. He ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate in 2020 to replace Sen. Hank Coe.

Now he has his eye on the State House again.

Linking the Willwood with Powell HD 25 feels right to Northrup. A previous legislative redistricting placed the Willwood area in HD 26, made up of largely Big Horn County voters.

“Powell is where I went to school, including graduating from Northwest College with an associate of science degree,” he said. “I went to Montana Tech in Butte to earn a degree in geological engineering. My wife Astrid is a longtime professor at Northwest College teaching engineering and math.”

In addition, Northrup was elected to the Powell School District 1 Board of Trustees and served as chairman.

He was immediately assigned to the House Education Committee and the Revenue Committee in his first term representing HD 50. In his second term, he was appointed vice chairman of the education committee, which quickly proved to be a full chairmanship when then-Chair John Patton of Sheridan died in office. Northrup served as chairman of education for the following six years.

“I believe we need a strong education system, a balanced budget and a thriving economy for our citizens,” Northrup said. “Park County is starting to see its changes in the last few years, with higher land values and now higher property taxes. I believe in incremental raises and or a freeze on property taxes for those over 65 is a better solution to our booming housing economy.”

Northrup remains an advocate for agriculture. 

“Educating the Legislature on the plight of agriculture in Wyoming resulted in one of the most satisfying bills that affects the ag industry,” he said. “This bill was to get Wyoming to adopt a national code for agriculture. This allows people to drive combination and trucks, in agriculture, without a Commercial Driver’s license. The responsibility rests on the owner to ensure the driver is adequately trained and is a safe driver. Most of us in ag still prefer a CDL driver when operating a semi with a combination rig.”

The incumbent HD 25 representative is Dan Laursen of Powell, who has said he will run for the State Senate seat presently held by R.J. Kost of Powell.

A primary election contest for the HD 25 seat developed Monday with the announcement by businessman Chris Good of Powell that he has also registered with the Secretary of State’s office to be a candidate for the office in the August primary. Filing remains open until May 27.

2022 Election

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