The intersection between holding public office and also being a business can be a challenge.
The dynamic came into full view when a Gillette dry cleaning business previously owned by state Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, announced it was changing its name from Bear’s Naturally Clean Dry Cleaners because of Bear’s political involvements.
Bear is one of the most influential members of the Wyoming Legislature as chairman emeritus of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, largely credited for the group’s rise.
His wife, Sage, is the longest-serving member of the Campbell County Public Library board, serving front and center in local efforts to remove sexually explicit library books from shelves.
The Name Change
Sheridan resident Kaden Redinger, owner of what’s now known as 307 Dry Cleaners, said they were personally told by numerous local residents that they would not support the business if there was any remaining connection to the Bear name.
As a result, Redinger said his business has shown “tremendous improvement” since announcing the name change March 3. He said changing the business name was an extensive process that required a lot of paperwork.
“It’s a very lengthy process, and an expensive one,” he said.
Redinger said he was actually encouraged by Bear to make the change when he sold the business last June because of Bear’s political affiliations, but Bear told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday this is only partially true.
Bear said he only supported the name change if it proved to be effective and told Rednger to study the issue closely to avoid alienating the other base of customers that already supported the business in relation to Bear’s politics.
“I told him you don’t want to alienate 80% of the public to go after 3%-5% that don’t like John Bear,” Bear said.
Now, Bear said he’s disappointed that Redinger has intermixed politics with the business, something he believes should be avoided.
Redinger told Cowboy State Daily he supports some of Bear’s political stances while opposing others.
Bear drew criticism during this year’s legislative session from Gillette teachers for what some saw as weak support for building a new Campbell County High School building.
Bear responded that this “couldn’t be farther from the truth” as he drafted a bill to pay for the school.
He also supported legislation criticized by schools and governments to cut property taxes by 25%.
Bear's Naturally Clean Dry Cleaners changed its name after the business was bought from state Rep. John Bear, a prominent Wyoming politician. 
State Rep. Ocean Andrew, R-Laramie, says his business actully improved after boycott was called for over legislation he supported. (Courtesy Ocean Andrew, On The Hook) 
State Rep. Ocean Andrew, R-Laramie, says his business actully improved after boycott was called for over legislation he supported. (Courtesy Ocean Andrew, On The Hook) 
Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, co-owner of Jedidiah’s Catering and Concessions at Jackson Hole Airport, said he’s received boycott threats from customers before. But he believes his political involvement has been positive for his business because of the increased publicity it's brought to his business. (Matt Idler for Cowboy State Daily) 
State Rep. John Bear, R-Gillette, sold his longtime dry cleaning business last year. The new owners have changed the name to distance the business from any preceived association with Bear's politics. (Matt Idler for Cowboy State Daily) 
State Rep. Ocean Andrew, R-Laramie, said a boycott on his fish and chips food truck business actually increased sales. (Matt Idler for Cowboy State Daily)
Crossroads
Bear believes his politics align with the policies of President Donald Trump, who was supported with 87% of the vote in Campbell County in the 2024 election.
Bear estimates that 3%-5% of the public didn’t support his business because of his politics. But as a whole, politics positively impacted his business. The growth of the dry cleaners during the time he owned it he points to as evidence.
“I don’t think I could’ve sold it without some of that,” he said.
Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, co-owner of Jedidiah’s Catering and Concessions at Jackson Hole Airport, said he’s received boycott threats from customers before. But like Bear, believes his political involvement has been positive for his business because of the increased publicity it's brought to his business.
“People will say they’re not going to patronize your business for whatever you did,” Gierau said. “For every one of those persons, there’ll be two people who patronize for what you did.”
Gierau said he’s still more well-known for his business and doesn’t try to draw personal attention to his work in politics, including never putting up any of his campaign signs at the establishment.
Hooked?
Rep. Ocean Andrew, R-Laramie, had threats of a boycott of his fish and chips food truck business On The Hook during this year’s session.
On The Hook has grown quickly since starting in 2016 and serves communities all around Wyoming and in 19 other states.
One of Andrew’s bills that passed into law expands school choice in Wyoming to provide universal vouchers for K-12 students no matter a family’s income level.
Another bill he sponsored that didn’t pass would have allowed school districts to employ teachers, administrators and others without a board certification.
In response, an effort was circulated on social media to boycott On The Hook, which was met with a corresponding counter-boycott from conservatives who pledged to support the business because of the boycott.
Andrew reported that the boycott actually caused a 40% increase in his sales on a particular Saturday in February. Gierau told Cowboy State Daily he believes it.
“They’re getting free publicity out the wazoo for that business,” he said.
Gierau said people who claim politics ruined their businesses probably weren’t very good business owners to begin with.
“People will tell me after they buy a cup of coffee how mad they are with me,” Girerau said. “I tell them, ‘Thanks for buying a cup of coffee.’”
Andrew did not immediately respond to Cowboy State Daily’s request for comment.
Calling on people to boycott businesses did not pay off for former Casper state legislator Jeanette Ward. She lost her re-election bid last year after calling on people to boycott Casper businesses that sponsored the local LGBTQ Pride festival in 2023.
Part Of The Duty
The Wyoming Legislature only meets for a few months each year and does not pay enough for most people to live off as a single income.
Therefore, the group is considered a “citizen’s Legislature” due to the split duties that most of its members must hold.
Bear said he knows people who have chosen to not get involved in politics because of the personal business risks, and also people who chose to accept those risks and faced losses.
“Unfortunately, because of this is what keeps people from running for the state Legislature,” Bear said.
Bear believes the tide is changing on this front because of people like President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who were well-known businessmen before getting into politics.
“The average Joe is inspired by that,” he said. “That if someone like Trump is willing to do it, maybe they should go do it too instead of being mad at the TV.”
Gierau and Bear both knew they were taking certain financial risks when they chose to get into politics, but said they found the juice to be worth the squeeze.
However, Gierau said it was his business career that directly inspired his career in politics.
“I wanted to give back,” he said.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
