Governor Freudenthal has selected State Senator Tom Barrasso to replace the deceased Senator Craig Thomas. Barrasso will serve until 2008 and then face reelection. Thomas was just reelected in 2006, so his term runs until 2012. Whoever wins the 2008 election will be elected to an unusual four-year term. Coincidentally, Wyoming’s other senator Mike Enzi’s term will be up in 2008. The winner of that election will serve a full six-year term.
Barrasso is an orthopedic surgeon who sometimes appears on television to talk about health issues. At some time in the past he may have been pro-choice but that is certainly not the case anymore. If he is pro stem-cell research we will have enough votes to override Bush’s veto. However, Robert Novak intimated in a recent column that none of the potential new senators from Wyoming were pro stem-cell research.
On the salacious side, I’m already hearing rumors that Barrasso is bisexual and has a boyfriend. I’m not certain that is true, but if it is it might conflict with his platform.
“I believe in limited government, lower taxes, less spending, traditional family values, local control and a strong national defense,” Barrasso said in his application documents to be considered for the Senate appointment.
In any case, we have a new senator…Senator Barrasso (R-WY).
