Cyrus Western

Cyrus Western
Member of the Wyoming House of Representatives from the 51st district
Incumbent
Assumed office 2019
Preceded by	Bo Biteman
Personal details
Political party	Republican
Residence(s)	Big Horn, Wyoming, U.S.
Alma mater	Washington & Jefferson College Harvard University
Website	Vote Western

Cyrus Western is a Wyoming politician.

Education

Western earned a Bachelor's degree in environmental science from Washington & Jefferson College in 2012 and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies in environmental science from Harvard University in 2016.^[1]

Career

On November 6, 2018, Western was elected to the Wyoming House of Representatives where he represents the 51st district. He ran unopposed in the general election.^[2]

On December 14, 2020, on Twitter, Western replied to an article about the appointment of the first African-American sheriff in Wyoming, Aaron Appelhans, with a GIF from the film Blazing Saddles of Cleavon Little's character saying "Where the white women at?"^[3] The film scene drew on stereotypes of African-American men. After receiving notable criticism for the tweet, Western deleted the tweet, and called Sheriff Appelhans to apologize. Western also publicly apologized. While Western claimed while he meant to draw on the anti-racist themes of the film in the tweet, he acknowledged that the tweet was insensitive and "dumb."^[4] Four months later, in May 2021, the Pikes Peak Southern Christian Leadership Conference called for the resignation of Representative Western over the insensitive tweet, taking into account the apology.^[5] Western said that he would not be resigning.^[6]

Western sponsors House Bill 84, also known as the Naomi Hunting Age Exemption Act. The bill is named after a Make-A-Wish kid who wanted to go big game hunting, but was ultimately prevented from doing so by Wyoming's big game hunting age requirements. State law requires big game hunters to be at least 12 years old. Western's bill seeks to waive Wyoming Game and Fish Commission age requirements for children with terminal illness. The bill has been introduced to the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee.^[7][8]

Western did not run for re-election in the 2024 state house election.^[9]

Personal life

Western resides in Big Horn, Wyoming. Western is Christian.^[1]

References

1. "House District 51: Representative Cyrus Western". Wyoming Legislature. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
2. "Cyrus Western". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
3. "Western apologizes for Twitter remarks regarding new Albany County sheriff". The Sheridan Press. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
4. Reynolds, Nick. "Wyoming lawmaker apologizes for tweet about Wyoming's first Black sheriff". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
5. Roedel, John. "CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP CALLS FOR WYOMING LAWMAKER'S RESIGNATION FOR 'DISTASTEFUL' TWEET". Cap City News. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
6. Foster, Brandon. "Civil rights group calls on lawmaker to resign for tweet about Wyoming's first Black sheriff". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
7. Dow, Stephen. "Legislators seeking exemption to state's minimum hunting age". The Sheriden Press. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
8. Pepalis, Bob. "Lawmakers: Letting young Wyomingites hunt can help put more meat in the freezer". Kiowa County Press. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
9. Wolfson, Leo. "Wyoming House Majority Whip Cyrus Western Won't Run For Reelection". Cowboy State Daily. Retrieved March 19, 2024.