CANDY MOULTON Star-Tribune correspondent | Posted: Wednesday, November 8, 2006 12:00 am
ENCAMPMENT - Incumbent state Rep. Republican Kevin White of Laramie edged his Democratic challenger Seth Carson by just eight votes to apparently win re-election in House District 45, according to unofficial results from Tuesday's election.
Meanwhile, Republican incumbent James Slater, 71, of Laramie had a slightly better margin in his bid for re-election in House District 46, over Republican Jan Alvaney for that Albany County seat.
Carbon County results were slow in being reported, leaving legislative seats there undecided at the Star-Tribune's deadline, although state Sen. Bill Vasey led two-to-one in his bid for a fourth term in Senate District 11.
In House District 45, comprising western portions of Laramie, White, a one-term Republican legislator, tallied 1,265 votes, while Carson, his Democratic challenger, received 1,257 votes. White wants to work to provide affordable health care for Wyoming residents, particularly children and seniors.
White, 45, the interim chief of police for the University of Wyoming Police Department, has been in the House for two years. Carson, 27, a city councilman, ran on a platform that stressed statewide energy issues. Carson is single and works as a custom home designer and energy consultant.
Slater garnered 2,067 votes to win re-election over challenger Jan Alvaney, 53, of Centennial, who received 1,702 votes.
In House District 47, Republican challenger William "Jeb" Steward led former Carbon County Commissioner Linda Fleming, a Democrat from Baggs. He had 245 votes while she had 202 votes, with only two of 14 precincts reporting, including one in Albany County and one in Carbon County.
Fleming is a retired school teacher from Baggs, while Steward is a former ranch hand and small business owner from Encampment. Incumbent Republican Rep. Kurt Buchholz of Saratoga chose not to seek re-election. The district encompasses most of Carbon County, with the exception of Rawlins, plus the rural area of Albany County around Rock River.
There were no results available for House District 15, which encompasses the city of Rawlins. In that race Democrat George Bagby faced a challenge from Republican Bob Taylor.
With eight of 20 precincts reporting, Democratic incumbent Bill Vasey, 67, appeared poised to win his fourth term representing Senate District 11, which encompasses Rawlins and northern Carbon County. Vasey had 1,662 votes compared with 828 for Republican Harry Lovato, 60, of Rawlins and 213 for Independent candidate Ken Casner of Elk Mountain.