The Nation - News from March 26, 1989

Democrats meeting in Casper, Wyo., selected state Sen. John Vinich to face Republican nominee Craig Thomas, a state representative in his third term, in the April 26 special election to fill the U.S. House seat left vacant by newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney. Cheney, a six-term Republican congressman, gave up the seat less than two weeks ago when he was confirmed as defense secretary by the U.S. Senate. Vinich won the nod over Bill Downes, a Casper attorney, and former state Tax Commissioner Carrol Orrison. Vinich said he hopes to influence some fellow Democrats in the House who have “senseless ideas and no understanding of the West.”