CHEYENNE – Senator Dan Dockstader was confirmed this week as the president of the Wyoming Senate for the 66th session of the Wyoming legislature. He replaced Senator Drew Perkins in this crucial leadership role. “It’s an enormously complex and difficult task,” several legislators commented about the job this week. “It’s a little like herding cats.”
The 66th Wyoming Legislature convened at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 12 for a one-day virtual session. Governor Mark Gordon addressed the legislature and the entire state with the State of the State address.
Senate colleague, Fred Baldwin, who currently serves with Dockstader commented about the position,
“Being the senate president is a huge honor. It isn’t necessarily the longest-standing senator, but it is someone who has served a long time and is widely respected by his peers. I respect Senator Dockstader for what he has to do. It’s an environment with a lot of strongly-held views and opinionated people. He’s got a lot to deal with.”
Dockstader has been a member of the senate since 2009 and served as Senate Majority Floor Leader in 2019-2020. Prior to his senate service, Dockstader served District 16 in the House from 2007-2008. Since 2009 he has labored in the senate and served in a senate leadership role the last three legislative sessions.
Dockstader, originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, is married to Kim Dockstader, an art teacher at Star Valley High School in Afton, WY. They have four children and 12 grandchildren.
Baldwin further explained the president’s role, “The president of the senate, among other things, represents the senate body to other groups, like the House of Representatives. Dan represents the interests of the senate very well to all other groups.”
Baldwin and Dockstader have worked on a number of issues together since Baldwin heads the Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. Due to his medical background as a physician assistant, Baldwin tends to be the go-to senator for medical issues, so he and Dockstader have collaborated on many issues together that concern Lincoln and Sublette Counties.
Due to Senator Dockstader’s busy schedule preparing for the session, he was unavailable for comment.
The 66th Wyoming Legislature convened at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 12 for a one-day virtual session.
Governor Mark Gordon addressed the legislature. A video livestream of the House and Senate proceedings will be available on the Legislature’s website at: www.wyoleg.gov. Governor Gordon’s message will be livestreamed separately on Wyoming PBS’s YouTube channel at 2 p.m.
Members of the public are encouraged to view the proceedings online. The public may contact members of the Legislature directly using the contact information available on the Legislature’s website at: www.wyoleg.gov/Legislators.
