CHEYENNE - A new generation of Republicans is needed to restore the party to its principles of limited government and individual freedom, Dan Zwonitzer say.

The 28-year-old state representative from Cheyenne said that is why he intends to seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. House next year.

Zwonitzer announced formation of his exploratory campaign committee Tuesday and said he will make a formal announcement of his candidacy for the state's only U.S. House seat after the 2008 legislative budget session ends in March.

"At this stage you can still explore without the Federal Election Commission coming in with regulations," he said during an interview Tuesday.

He is in his second term in the Wyoming House and is the youngest member of the Legislature.

Zwonitzer said he plans to make a long-term commitment to staying in the U.S. House, if elected, in order to give the state valuable seniority.

"I think everyone who runs for the seat should make a seven-term commitment to benefit Wyoming," he said.

Other Republicans who have announced their intention to run for the House seat next year include Kenn Gilchrist, a Casper businessman; Swede Nelson, a substitute teacher and motivational speaker from Cheyenne; and Bill Winney, a retired Navy captain who lives in Sublette County.

State Rep. Colin Simpson, R-Cody, said publicly earlier this year that he intended to challenge incumbent Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo., in the GOP primary. Cubin recently announced she will not seek re-election next year.

"I'm still evaluating all the opportunities and how they fit with my family," Simpson said Tuesday.

He and his wife, Debbie, have two sons, ages 5 and 8.

Democrat Gary Trauner of Teton County has announced he will run for the House again. He lost to Cubin last year by a narrow margin.

Zwonitzer works as an auctioneer in southeast Wyoming and helps manage his family's businesses in the Cheyenne area. He previously worked four years in state government - in the governor's office and for the Department of Agriculture.

He resigned from the department because it was difficult for him to serve on the House Committee on Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources and be a state employee, he said.

He also is Wyoming state chairman for the presidential campaign of former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Zwonitzer will campaign for Congress on three issues, he said:

* Ending illegal immigration, which he believes is a great threat to national security, by working with employers to cut off jobs "so there is no reason for illegal aliens to be here."

* Reforming the health care industry to rely on free-market principles and competition to drive down prices.

"I don't believe socialized medicine is the answer," he said.

* Mandating that Congress curb spending through a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget.

One-third of the states, including Wyoming, have balanced budget requirements in their state constitutions, he said.

During the legislative session last winter, Zwonitzer received praise from gay rights organization for his opposition to a bill that would have allowed Wyoming to deny recognition of gay marriages granted by other states or countries.

He told the House Rules Committee that he needed to publicly oppose the bill, even if it cost him his seat, because he believed it was the right thing to do. Other committee members agreed with him and killed the bill.

Zwonitzer said Tuesday he doesn't believe his position will hurt his congressional campaign.

"I stood up against bills every day," he said.

He added that he believes the Republican Party is changing.

Dick and Linda Barker of Cheyenne will co-chair Zwonitzer's exploratory committee.

Zwonitzer said he has met with the National Republican Congressional Committee and will do so again in a couple of weeks.

Capital bureau reporter Joan Barron can be reached at (307) 632-1244 or at joan.barron@trib.com.