Guy Padgett

Guy V. Padgett III (born 1977) is a former American municipal politician from Wyoming. A member of the Casper, Wyoming City Council from 2003 to 2009, he was mayor of Casper from 2005 to 2006.[1][2] He is a Democrat.

Guy Padgett
Mayor of Casper, Wyoming
In office 2005–2006
Preceded by	Barbara E. Watters
Succeeded by	Renee R. Burgess
Member, Casper City Council
In office 2003–2009
Succeeded by	Glenn Januska
Personal details
Born	(1977-08-20) August 20, 1977
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Wyoming (B.A.) University of Denver (M.A.)

He came out as gay while on the city council in 2003, becoming the state's first openly gay elected official.[3] Despite Wyoming's reputation for being politically conservative and the murder of Casper native Matthew Shepard in nearby Laramie in 1998, Padgett was unanimously elected mayor by the council in 2005. He reportedly enjoyed great popularity among his constituents, including support from prominent Republican Party politicians such as Alan K. Simpson. In addition he was, at 27, Casper's youngest mayor.[4]

He was re-elected to the city council in 2006; he resigned his seat June 30, 2009, upon admission to a master's degree program at the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies.[5] His resignation left only one openly gay elected official in Wyoming: state representative Cathy Connolly (D–Laramie).

References

1. "The New Face Of Gay Power". TIME. October 13, 2003.
2. "Airport Manager Joins City Council". Casper Journal. July 8, 2009.
3. "Very Much At Home: A Gay Mayor In Wyoming". The New York Times. December 15, 2005. p. 34 (section A).
4. "Don't Ask, Don't Dare Tell". Casper Star-Tribune. October 6, 2003.
5. "Meet Guy Padgett" (PDF). Admitted Student Profiles. University of Denver. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2012.

Political offices
Preceded by Barbara E. Watters	Mayor of Casper 2005-2006	Succeeded by Renee R. Burgess