Preceded by Mike Massie Name Chris Rothfuss Political party Democratic Party | Spouse(s) Heather Rothfuss Education University of Wyoming | |
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Born October 21, 1972 (age 51)
Ann Arbor, Michigan ( 1972-10-21 ) Occupation Chemical engineer, professor Residence Laramie, Wyoming, United States | ||
Dr chris rothfuss at wy democratic convention pt 2 3
Chris Rothfuss (born October 21, 1972) is a Democratic member of the Wyoming Senate, representing the 9th District, which is based in Albany County, since 2011.
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Dr chris rothfuss at wy democratic convention pt 1 3
History
Rothfuss was born in Ann Arbor, and moved with his family to Marquette, Michigan, in 1976, and finally settled in Casper, Wyoming, in 1985. He attended Natrona County High School, where he graduated in 1990. Rothfuss then attended the University of Wyoming, where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in international studies in 1994; he then returned to the University of Wyoming, receiving a Master's degree in chemical engineering in 1996. In 2002, Rothfuss graduated from the University of Washington with both a Master's degree in applied physics and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. Following graduation, he took a position as a Science and Technology Diplomacy Fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and then joined the United States Department of State, working as the senior nanotechnology advisor within the department. After his family moved back to Wyoming, he began teaching courses in political science and nanotechnology at the University of Wyoming.
United States Senate campaign, 2008
In 2008, Rothfuss announced that he would challenge two-term Republican Senator Mike Enzi. He defeated former State Senator and Casper City Councilman Keith Goodenough in the Democratic primary with 62% of the vote. In the general election, however, Rothfuss was defeated by Enzi, receiving 24% of the vote.
State Senate
When State Senator Mike Massie declined to seek another term in the Senate to instead pursue an ultimately unsuccessful campaign for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2010, Rothfuss ran to succeed him. He defeated Jodi Guerin in the Democratic primary with 61% of the vote, and was elected without opposition in the general election.
While serving in the Senate, Rothfuss joined with Republican State Senator Hank Coe to sponsor legislation that would required "every Wyoming high school student to attend school through the 12th grade or until their 18th birthday, unless a parent agreed otherwise," which was prompted by the revelation that, despite the fact that Wyoming spends nearly $16,000 per student, has a low graduation rate. Additionally, Rothfuss suggested amending the Hathaway scholarship restrictions to "allow [University of Wyoming] summer school students to use the fund to pay for 3 credit hour classes." For the 2013-2014 legislative term, Rothfuss was selected by Democrats in the Senate to serve as the Senate Democratic Leader, and, by virtue of the fact that his party is in the minority, the Minority Leader.