swimr48 posted on August 14, 2008 09:00
By David Peck
Big Horn County voters will go to the polls next Tuesday, Aug. 19, for the 2008 Primary Election in Wyoming to choose party nominees for statewide U.S. House and Senate races, as well as one seat on the Big Horn County Board of Commissioners.
Those who are nominated by their respective party will advance to the General Election on Nov. 4.
Also on the ballot will be two Wyoming House of Representatives seats, both unopposed for the Republican nomination, as well as various town council seats throughout the county, with two candidates per seat advancing to the General Election.
Precinct committeemen and committeewomen will also be chosen Tuesday.
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the following locations in north Big Horn County: the Wyoming National Guard Armory in Lovell, the town hall in Cowley, Rocky Mountain High School in Byron, the community hall in Deaver and the old school building in Frannie.
The hottest race in the state is the battle for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives seat currently held by Rep. Barbara Cubin, who is retiring. Mark Gordon of Buffalo, Michael Holland of Green River, former Wyoming State Treasurer Cynthia Lummis of Cheyenne and Bill Winney of Bondurant are vying for the GOP nomination, while Gary Trauner of Wilson, who narrowly lost to Cubin in the General Election two years ago, is unopposed for the Democratic nomination. David Herbert of Cody is unopposed for the Libertarian nomination.
In a rare occurrence, both of Wyoming’s seats in the U.S. Senate are also up for election in 2008. Sen. Mike Enzi is seeking his third term in the Senate and is unopposed for the Republican nomination. He will be challenged in November by one of two Democrats vying for their party’s nomination, frequent candidate Al Hamburg of Torrington or Chris Rothfuss of Laramie.
Dr. John Barrasso of Casper was appointed to Wyoming’s other U.S. Senate seat in June of 2007 following the death of Sen. Craig Thomas. He is unopposed for the GOP nomination to return to Washington for a four-year term to fulfill Thomas’ original term. Vying for the Democratic nomination are Nick Carter of Gillette and Keith Goodenough of Casper.
Local races
The only contested county-wide race is for the seat on the Big Horn County Board of Commissioners currently held by Bill Duncan of Basin. Duncan is seeking re-election, and he is being challenged by Jerry Ewen of Shell and Ron McArthur of Cowley for the Republican nomination. Battling for the Democratic nomination are Colin Buchanan of Manderson and Mary Freund of Basin.
Rep. Elaine Harvey of Lovell is unopposed for the Republican nomination for her District No. 26 seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives, as is Rep. Lorraine Quarberg of Thermopolis for her District 28 seat. Neither will have a Democratic challenger in November, barring a write-in candidate.
The hottest town council race is in Byron, where seven candidates are vying for council seats currently held by David Hessenthaler and Gilbert Cordova. Both are seeking re-election and will be joined on the ballot by challengers Alan Bair, Patricea Dean, Gary Gruell, Perry Johnson and Marie McCollam.
Four candidates – two for each seat – will advance to the General Election in the non-partisan race.
In Cowley, four are running for council seats currently held by Tim Jones and Peggy Rasmussen. Both are seeking re-election and will be joined on the ballot by challengers Diane Badget and Dexter Woodis Jr. All four will advance to the General Election.
The rest of the candidates for town council in north Big Horn County are unopposed, including incumbents Scott Allred and Brian Dickson in Lovell; Paul North, Don Wenstrom Jr. and Fred Yates in Deaver; and Brenda Kawano and Marty Roedel in Frannie. North and Kawano are running for two-year terms to fill unexpired terms of persons elected two years ago.
Jack Cordner is running an announced write-in campaign for the Frannie Town Council, as well.
Those interested in immediate results are invited to attend the election night party Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Bank of Lovell.