Brenda grew up in a small town in Iowa – the daughter of a band teacher and homemaker. She walked to school, went to church, and played and teased endlessly with her four younger siblings.

In 1979, Brenda moved to Cheyenne when her then-husband got a job teaching Elementary PE. Brenda worked as a teacher’s assistant, a church secretary, and an insurance clerk. She had two daughters – Jennifer and Rebecca. Brenda also became very involved in Cheyenne Little Theatre Players, which became her second family.

In 1985, Brenda started a life outside of marriage. She worked as a waitress, a secretary, and a trainer for the cable TV company.

In the mid-90’s, Brenda had the epiphany that she wanted to be a lawyer like her younger sister. Brenda returned to Iowa to earn her bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Arts from Drake University and then came back to Wyoming to attend the University of Wyoming College of Law. Brenda earned her law degree and license in 1999. She worked in bankruptcy law and later started a career with the Wyoming Department of Family Services. In 2003, she married school administrator and long-time friend, John Lyttle.

Brenda worked as an administrator for DFS for 16 years. Brenda administered the Child Support Enforcement Program and, later, social services programs such as TANF, SNAP, and Child Care Subsidies. By the way, when you have to give the last four digits of your Social Security Number to obtain a fishing or hunting license, thank Brenda. That was her doing in Child Support Enforcement. You can’t hunt or fish if you can’t pay your child support!

Wyoming Child Support Enforcement became the #1 performing program in the country under Brenda’s leadership. Governor Mead also named Brenda as his first “Homelessness Czar” and Brenda was responsible for the Governor’s first “10-Year Plan to Reduce Homelessness.” Working as an administrator for a state agency, Brenda experienced first-hand how the Wyoming Legislature can lead the state into the future.

After leaving the State’s employ, Brenda became the Wyoming attorney for National Debt Relief. Working with clients, Brenda discovered the true financial crisis that is caused by medical bills, unemployment, injury, and increasing credit card interest rates.

All this time, Brenda remained a volunteer as an actor, director and Board member of Cheyenne Little Theatre Players. She continued to play clarinet and saxophone for the Laramie County Community College Wind Symphony and Cheyenne City Band. She also sang in the church choir. Brenda now directs the church choir and calls it her “favorite job.” She is currently a Board member for the housing program My Front Door.

Brenda is running to represent House District 8 as a proud Wyoming Democrat. She is encouraged by her husband John, her two daughters and their husbands, her stepdaughter and her husband, and her stepson. Brenda and John together have 6 grandchildren, love to travel, and enjoy a house full of love and commitment to the community.