Thirty-one candidates file for Senate seat
To temporarily fill the place of the late Senator Craig Thomas
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
June 15, 2007
Wyoming Republican Party Chairman Fred Parady released the final list of 31 candidates who met the deadline to apply for the vacancy to temporarily fill the late Senator Craig Thomas’ position.
“To provide an overview, we have candidates from 17 of Wyoming’s 23 counties,” said Chairman Parady. “Natrona leads with 7 candidates, followed by the capital city’s Laramie County with 5. Wyoming’s least populated county, Niobrara, has a favorite son in the race. There are 9 former legislators, 3 central committee members, two doctors and 9 attorneys, 7 ranchers and at least one former county commissioner. There are 4 women and 27 men. It is a diverse group, representing almost every corner of Wyoming” noted Chairman Parady.
There will be a candidate forum on Sunday, June 17, at the Gertrude Krampert Theater at Casper College at 1:00 PM that will be broadcast on Wyoming Public Television.
The WYGOP Central Committee will meet in Casper beginning at 8:00 AM Tuesday, June 19th, to select three names to put forth to Governor Freudenthal for the vacancy.
“We are finalizing our procedures to reflect this large group of candidates and will release them by Saturday,” said Parady.
Deadline for applications to be submitted to the Wyoming Republican Party was June 14 at 5:00 PM. The application period is closed.
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In no particular order, here’s the slate of candidates under consideration by the 71-member Republican Central Committee:
Jack Sapp, 56, of Casper is one of the owners of Sapp Bros Truckstops, a company with sales of more than $225 million last year.
John Barrasso is a 54-year old Casper physician with an extensive resume of volunteer service to the community and to the Republican party.
Nora Marie Lewis, 73, of Basin, ran for the senate twice (against Malcolm Wallop in 1988 and against Al Simpson in 1990), spending only $300 per primary, making a statement against PAC money. She has been a member of the party for 53 years.
Frank Moore, is a 54-year old sheep and cattle rancher from Douglas. He served two terms in the state legislature, and has served as president of both Wyoming Wool Growers Association and American Sheep Industry Association.
Matt Mead, 45, of Cheyenne quit his job as U.S. Attorney last week in order to seek this senate seat. He’s a lifelong Republican.
Jeanna Wright, 56, of Sheridan was born and raised in Idaho and is an office manager at an insurance company.
Tom Sansonetti, 58, a Cheyenne attorney, is well known in Republican circles, serving in several different administrations.
Nate Stratton, 48, of Casper said he filed for the vacancy “to break the status quo” and would consider border control his top priority.
Brian Scott Gamroth, 42, of Caper is a well-known radio personality on KTWO Radio.
Charles Young is a Rawlins family practitioner and general surgeon. He’s 55.
Jan Charles Gray owns Mt. Rushmore Broadcasting. The 59-year old Casper man owns the largest radio chain in the state.
Cynthia Lummis, 52, of Cheyenne, has a history of service, including in the Wyoming Legislature and as state treasurer.
Clif McCrady hails from Casper and notes that while he has no desire to run for political office, he has a desire to serve. He has worked for the California legislature and feels that working for the poor is part of his calling.
Dennis Fox, 51 of Wolf, has lived in Wyoming almost four years, after 20 years of being a U.S. Air Force aviator, coming here “to settle down in a quiet place to hunt and fish.”
Clark Stith, 46, is an attorney based in Rock Springs, and has been a Wyoming resident for 10 years.
Paul Kruse, 55, of Cheyenne, has an extensive resume of work for the Republican party and on natural resource policy issues.
John Holtz, 57, is an attorney and former judge from Cheyenne.
Doug Chamberlain, 64, of LaGrange, served in the Wyoming Legislature in the early 1990s, even serving as Speaker of the House and Majority Leader.
Ron Micheli, 59, of Fort Bridger, served in the Wyoming Legislature and was a director of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture during the Geringer administration.
Larry French is a 57-year old insurance salesman from Powell.
Colin Simpson of Cody is 48 years old and is an attorney who also serves in the Wyoming Legislature. He pledged to fight drilling in the Wyoming Range and promote legislation Craig Thomas was advocating when he died.
Randy Stevenson, 53, owns a feedlot in Wheatland and serves on the board of R-CALF USA and the Organization for Competitive Markets while chairing the Platte County GOP.
Thom Rankin is a 58-year old Casperite who spends time “trying to protect the Constitution of the United States and Wyoming.” He works in the substance-abuse field, mentoring youth.
Joseph Schloss, 56, of Jackson, is retired after 21 years of military service. He was a special agent for Homeland Security, worked for border patrol, INS, terrorism task force, etc.
David Edwards, 68, is a state senator from Douglas, with transportation expertise. He is a retired Navy captain.
Bruce Asay of Cheyenne is a 57-year old Brigadier General and a 32-year veteran of the Air National Guard. He ran for the senate in 2004.
Ben Collins Jr. is a minister from Casper who has lived in the state for nine months.
Bill Paddleford is a Teton County Commissioner from Jackson. He was raised in Lander and is 54-years old.
Cale Case is a state legislator from Lander who continues to put forth legislation attempting to broaden the state’s instream flow statute. He’s a 49-year old accountant.
Ray Hunkins is the 68-year old Wheatland attorney and rancher who unsuccessfully ran for governor twice. He pledged not to seek re-election in 2008.
Randall Luthi is an attorney from Freedom who currently serves as second-in-command at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He’s a former state legislator.
Dawn Ballou contributed to this story.
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