Craig Thomas' successor?

Posted: Thursday, June 07, 2007 2:06 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: States, 2008, Pete Williams

From NBC's Pete Williams
Wyoming's US attorney has stepped down, apparently to clear the way for him to be considered a replacement for Sen. Craig Thomas, who died on Monday.

Matthew Mead's announcement says, "Mead was born and raised in Jackson, WY. He has a family ranching background and a Wyoming ranching operation, to which he now returns." He's been US attorney since October 2001.

Mead is the grandson of former Wyoming GOP Sen. Cliff Hansen, and he is close to Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D), who will select Thomas' replacement from a list of three nominees assembled by the state Republican party. Mead was an assistant US attorney when Freudenthal was the US attorney in Wyoming.

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Comments

Wyoming seems to be at least one place where Dems and Repubs can get along.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Thursday, June 07, 2007 2:18 PM)

They "get along" because the Wyoming constitution requires this outcome. Unlike the South Dakota constitution which would have allowed the Repug. governor to replace the Democratic Senator with a Repug. By all accounts, that would have happened if Sen. Johnson had died in office. It makes me wonder what the Colorado constitution (my home state) requires. And, why everyone shouldn't examine their own state constitutions. The Wyoming model seems fair. This is a nonpartisan issue and should be embraced by all parties (Karl Rove notwithstanding).

Bob, Denver (Sent Thursday, June 07, 2007 5:10 PM)

"Montana"-album by George Winston

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Thursday, June 07, 2007 6:07 PM)

Just wait a minute here...the moment conyers received those emails from that reporter (palance?)tim griffin anounced he would step down this friday because those emails detailed how 100's os thousands were caged. this guy mead was in on it, even helped implement the caging scheme. that's two down 7 to go... the smoking gun has been revealed and conyers has the emails to prove it. see the book "mad house"

Ezequiel (Sent Thursday, June 07, 2007 11:30 PM)

My wife, son and I recently moved to Wyoming from Virginia in large part because of our new home state's dedication to doing the right thing. We're watching "Governor Dave's" selection process expectantly, with much respect and excitement. His appointment will validate the "Law of the West," of which the entire nation seems to be quite proud. As well it should be.

Shane Sellers, Newcastle, Wyoming (Sent Friday, June 08, 2007 12:01 AM)

Whoever Gov. Freudenthal appoints is merely going to be an interim senator. The appointee must run for the remainder of Thomas' term in the Senate in the November 2008 general election.

Rick Olson, Fargo, ND (Sent Friday, June 08, 2007 7:25 AM)

If Wyoming's Governor cares to challenge the state law requiring him to replace Sen. Thomas with a same-party candidate, it may be held that the law is unconstituional under the 17th Amendment.

Bill, Boston, MA (Sent Friday, June 08, 2007 10:55 AM)

RIP Senator Thomas

Mike, Wyoming (Sent Sunday, June 10, 2007 3:48 PM)

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