Andrew Whitlock

For Andrew Whitlock, of Powell, land is his life. 

Now, the real estate appraiser, broker and part owner of WYOld West wants to help protect the land, that way of life, and ensure future generations can stay, work and enjoy the area. So, he’s joining a crowded field running for three seats on the Park County Commission. 

“I have a lot of interest in the area, so I'm not going anywhere. This is my home,” he said. “I want the same conservative values I've grown up with to continue on in the Park County area … land is my life, so I want to protect it for future generations.”

Whitlock sees running for commissioner as his entry into a political arena he would like to stay in for a while, with the goal of maybe becoming governor some day. 

For now, though, he’s focused locally, and one of the top issues for him is the Park County Land Use Plan and regulations process. 

“I believe I can really, really help with that and provide some insight,” he said. “And I think there's a lot of unhappy people with how things are being handled. And I believe with my real estate background, I think that's a good start for helping with that and a good jumping off point.”

Park County commissioners approved a new land use plan in 2024 and since then have been working to update development standards and regulations to reflect the changing desires of the county residents. It’s been a controversial process — Whitlock said he was dismayed when an early draft of new zoning maps displayed a large increase in the amount of industrial zoned land south of town in what is currently farm fields, and questions the use of outside consultants. 

“The concerns are having outside consultants brought in that don't understand the county, and they're trying to get zoning regulations passed,” he said. 

The county is currently using consultants from Logan Simpson based in Colorado and southeastern Wyoming for the regulations process. A different Colorado firm helped with the land use plan. 

Whitlock also has some concerns regarding property taxes, and said a better fix than just property tax refunds is to change the whole process of assessments. 

“With mass appraisals, they're just getting a blanket statement of values in the area,” he said. “And so obviously that's inflated and created, you know, higher taxes for everybody, which isn't fair, because they can't necessarily turn around tomorrow and sell their property for that amount.”

He said a better way to do it would be to assess properties not based on market value — many properties in the area are on the market for three months as owners hold out for a good deal — but on what the property would sell for if the homeowner needed to sell immediately. 

“There's got to be some checks and balances with property taxes,” he said. 

Whitlock said his past experiences have prepared him for the commission, from growing up in Powell, working on his parents’ dude ranch in Crandall, to now working as a real estate appraiser and serving on the Northwest Wyoming Board of Realtors. He is also  chair of the Wyoming Real Estate Appraisers Board, which he was appointed to by the governor, as well as church boards and the Powell Economic Partnership board. 

And with a wife and four kids, he’s invested in the county being a place his children can stay in or come back to. 

“So definitely invested in Park County, and definitely invested in education and the school system,” he said. “Obviously education is very important to me, and land use and zoning and just making sure my kids have a place to be, too, if they want.  And for other people in Park County — that's a place where people come, they stay and can raise families and not have to leave this area to find something to do for income.”