Prominent Democrat Vinich, 54, dies

[TransitJohn]

Monday, November 29, 2004

HUDSON, Wyo. (AP) -- John Vinich, a prominent Democrat and 24-year veteran of the Legislature who ran unsuccessfully for governor, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House, has died. He was 54.

Vinich was found at his home in Hudson at 1:18 a.m. Saturday. He was taken to Lander Valley Medical Center but could not be revived, according to authorities.

In 1974, when he was 22, Vinich became the youngest person to be elected to the Legislature. He went on to serve eight years in the House and 16 in the Senate.

In 1988, Vinich lost to incumbent Sen. Malcolm Wallop, R-Wyo., by about 1,000 votes. Less than a year later he lost to Craig Thomas in a special election to replace then-Rep. Dick Cheney, who had been named secretary of defense.

Running against incumbent Gov. Jim Geringer in 1998, Vinich got 40 percent to Geringer's 56 percent.
**more**
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2004/11/29/news/d1fca45dfad6350d87256f5b0060ea57.txt

[CO Liberal]

1. Guess They Couldn't Get Him On a Plane....

RIP, John. Thanks for putting up the good fight in a state sparcely populated with idiots.