Opinion: Now a Casper doctor has the least Senate seniority

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In a wonderfully get-along Western way, Wyoming’s Democratic governor, Dave Freudenthal, appointed a Republican as the Cowboy state’s new U.S. senator today. He’s John Barrasso, a 54-year-old orthopedic surgeon and conservative state legislator from Casper. He replaces Craig Thomas, a Republican who won re-election last fall but died recently of leukemia.

Under Wyoming law, the party of the deceased lawmaker presents a slate of three candidates to the governor who chooses one to serve until a special election, in this case in November next year. The winner of that special election (Barrasso has said he will run) will serve the remainder of Thomas’ unexpired term through 2012.

This system, which honors the most recent vote of Wyoming citizens, contrasts with many other states, including California, where the governor appoints the next senator, usually from the governor’s own party regardless of the departed lawmaker’s party. In an age of thick partisanship and slim legislative majorities in Washington, such political decisions can have far-reaching consequences.

For instance, last winter when Democrat Tim Johnson of South Dakota suffered a stroke, his replacement would have been named by a Republican governor, potentially shifting the balance of power for the entire U.S. Senate.

In his application, Barrasso said, ‘I believe in limited government, lower taxes, less spending, traditional family values, local control and a strong national defense.’ The other two candidates submitted by Republican officials were Cheyenne attorney Tom Sansonetti and former state treasurer Cynthia Lummis, according to Associated Press.

Barrasso takes office immediately.

--Andrew Malcolm