CHEYENNE - Rep. Dave Edwards of Douglas became the eighth Wyoming House incumbent who didn't file for re-election Friday, the filing deadline for the August primary election.

Edwards, a Republican who has served eight years in the House, is the chairman of the House Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee.

He said he could not seek another term in the House because he is moving out of House District 6. His new home being built along the North Platte River is located two miles south of the Douglas city limits. It is in House District 3, an open seat with the retirement of incumbent Rep. Deborah Alden of Wheatland.

Edwards said he cannot run for that seat because he hasn't been in HD 3 for the required one-year residency. So instead he filed for a four-year term as Converse County commissioner.

"I'm sad that I can't stay there," he said of the state House.

"As chairman of the Transportation Committee, I felt I could have made things happen," Edwards said.

Filing for Edwards' seat were two Republicans, Richard Cannaday of Glenrock and Mark Cash of Douglas, and Democrat Chase Ankinson of Glenrock.

Other Wyoming House incumbents who are not running for re-election include Jane Warren, D-Laramie; Doug Samuelson, R-Cheyenne; Alan Jones, R-Powell; Tom Walsh, R-Casper; Mary Gilmore, D-Casper; Deborah Alden, R-Wheatland; Monte Olsen, R-Daniel; and Jerry Iekel, R-Sheridan.

Wyoming House members who are running for the Senate include Reps. Dan Dockstader, R-Afton; Floyd Esquibel, D-Cheyenne; and Marty Martin, D-Rock Springs. They're all unopposed.

In the Wyoming Senate with 15 seats up for election, eight Republicans and two Democrats are running unopposed in both the primary and general elections barring write-in votes.

The Republican incumbents getting a free ride include Sens. Tony Ross Cheyenne; Phil Nicholas, Laramie; Stan Cooper, Kemmerer; Hank Coe, Cody; Gerald Geis, Worland; Michael Von Flatern, Gillette; and Eli Bebout, Riverton. Also running unopposed is Dockstader.

In the Wyoming House, 23 of the candidates for 60 House seats - 15 Republicans and eight Democrats - have no primary or general election opposition.

Recent filings in the Senate include:

* Al Snell of Buffalo, a Republican who will oppose Senate President John Schiffer of Kaycee in the GOP primary election.

* Democrat Bert Toews of Casper, who will oppose Republican Sen. Bill Landen, also of Casper, for the Senate District 27 seat in the general election.

* Democrat Erich Frankland, Casper, who will oppose Republican Sen. Kit Jennings of Casper for the Senate District 28 seat in the general election.

Contact Joan Barron at joan.barron@trib.com or by phone at 307-632-1244.