Freeman seeks re-election to Wyo. House

A Green River legislator seeks another term in the Wyoming House.

John Freeman, D-Green River, announced his intent to run for the House District 60 seat he's held since 2010 Wednesday morning. The district encompasses about two-thirds of Green River's population.

Freeman has been an active resident within the county for the past 35 years, serving as a member of the Sweetwater County Outdoor Recreation Board, Green River Recreation Board, the first chairman of the Green River Greenbelt Task Force, a trustee on the Western Wyoming Community College Board and is a past president of the Wyoming Association of Community College Trustees.

He also spent much of his career working with the area's youth. Freeman taught U.S. history and government in Sweetwater County School District No. 1 for 32 years at Rock Springs High School and Rock Springs Alternative High School. He coached youth soccer for 14 years.

He retired from teaching in 2011 and became WWCC's high school transition coordinator, assisting students in making a smooth transition from high school to the community college while they're still in high school.

As a member of the Wyoming Legislature, Freeman served on the House Education Committee, the Joint School Facilities Commission, Management Council, Travel, Recreation Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee, Select Natural Resource Funding Committee and several others. He has also been appointed to the Governor's School Safety Task Force and Complete College Wyoming.

In a media release, Freeman said he is uniquely qualified to return to Cheyenne and advocate for Green River and Sweetwater County interests. He believes the 2017 Legislature will continue struggling with declining mineral revenues and balancing its budget.

"Unless economic conditions improve, it is safe to assume the State of Wyoming will face further budget cuts, spending out of the rainy day accounts and possible tax increases," Freeman said in the release.

He believes despite the challenges, the state needs to stay open for business, addressing current conditions and preparing the state for future development.

He is the longest serving representative on the House Education and TRW Committees and wants to return to Cheyenne to be a part of vital discussions regarding the state's educational system and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

He hopes voters will allow him to return to the Wyoming Legislature.

Freeman has lived in Sweetwater County since 1971, while his family has had a presence in the county since the 1880s. He is a graduate of Rock Springs High School, WWCC, and the University of Wyoming. He is married to Theresa Collins Freeman and they have three grown sons; Michael, Matthew and Sean.