TOM MORTON Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Monday, October 15, 2007 12:00 am
Gary Trauner, a Democrat from Wilson, pledged to run a clean campaign and work harder than he did in 2006 when he runs for Wyoming's lone U.S. House seat again in 2008, he said during a news conference at a home in Casper today.
"So I'm here today to formally announce my candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives because a better Wyoming starts right here in the homes of Wyomingites like Gary and Sue Berchenbriter," Trauner said.
"I trust the people of Wyoming, and I trust that they will demand a campaign about the issues and vote for the candidate that will best represent this state and its values."
In 2006, Trauner lost to U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin by 1,012 votes out of 193,369 cast in the tightest U.S. House race in 36 years. Cubin, former Wyoming legislator, was elected in 1994 and has defeated every challenger since.
The weekend before the Nov. 7 election, the National Republican Committee spent $241,078 to run ads calling Trauner "dead wrong for Wyoming."
Trauner won't take that negative road, although politicians should be held accountable for their actions or nonactions, he said.
Recalling a conversation he had on election night, he said. "I've got kids, I don't want them to think I'm willing do anything to win. If that's what I have to do to win, then I don't want to win."
Cubin has not officially declared her plans for next year, but hinted she intends to run again in a response to potential primary challenger Sen. Colin Simpson, R-Cody, in a story in a Capitol Hill newspaper in June.
Cheyenne motivational speaker Swede Nelson and Casper businessman Kenn Gilchrist have announced they will run against her in the Republican primary.
Read more in Tuesday's Casper Star-Tribune.