A Casper pizzeria owner who was one of the first Republicans to announce a bid to run for Wyoming's open and lone U.S. House seat has withdrawn his candidacy, he announced Wednesday.

"After consulting with family, friends and supporters, I have decided not to file with the State of Wyoming to be a candidate for the United States House of Representatives and I am suspending my campaign effective today," Charles Tyrrel said in a press release.

Tyrrel announced his candidacy in November in front of his Charlie T's Pizzeria, 112 E. Second St., and cited his grass-roots, common-man background as a reason to vote for him.

He worked in coal mines for 15 years, he said then. “I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. I know what it’s like to get a raise, and see the check smaller because you got yourself into a higher tax bracket.”

He was a Wyoming life flight pilot for six years. He saw how medics and nurses made decisions in the back of an airplane while he made decisions in the front of the airplane, he said. “And that’s part of what I’ve done all my life: make decisions, gain knowledge.”

On Wednesday, he decided to suspend his campaign for business and personal reasons, he said.

"As the economy continues to decline in Wyoming and the United States I must maintain a full-time presence in Casper to operate my business, Charlie T’s Pizzeria," he said in the press release. "I do this for the sake of my employees and customers. In Casper retail businesses are down in sales from 20 to 50 percent.  I cannot be on the campaign trail at the same time as my business requires me to devote my full attention to Casper."

Tyrrel thanked his supporters and wished the best for his fellow Republicans.

Republicans who have filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State for the Republican Party nomination for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Rep. Cynthia Lummis are Mike Konsomo of Powell, Paul Paad of Casper, and Rex Rammell of Gillette.

Other Republicans who have announced their intentions to run include Liz Cheney of Wilson, State Rep. Leland Christensen of Alta, Darek Farmer of Guernsey, Jason Senteney of Yoder,, Darin Smith of Cheyenne, and State Rep. Tim Stubson of Casper.

Other candidates who have filed to run are Democrat Ryan Greene of Rock Springs and Libertarian Lawrence Gerard Struempf of Laramie.

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