CHEYENNE -- Having learned some lessons in his first try for the U.S. House in 2006, Republican Bill Winney is starting early this time.

The 57-year-old retired naval officer on Thursday announced his intention to again seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. House in the August 2008 GOP primary election.

In the 2006 GOP primary, Winney polled 33,267 votes to 50,004 for incumbent Barbara Cubin.

Winney pointed out that he captured 40 percent of the statewide vote, won the popular vote in Laramie and Teton counties and received 47.6 percent of the vote in Cubin's home county, Natrona.

Cubin went on to win a seventh term over Democrat Gary Trauner in the general election. Cubin has not yet announced whether she will seek an eighth term in Congress, while Trauner is running again.

Republicans Swede Nelson, a substitute teacher and motivational speaker from Cheyenne, and Casper businessman Kenn Gilchrist have announced they're running for the House seat. State Rep. Colin Simpson, R-Cody, earlier this year said publicly that he planned to challenge Cubin in the 2008 Republican primary.

Winney said he isn't focusing on Cubin as a candidate. He said he spent $45,000 in the 2006 race, including $40,000 of his own money.

Acknowledging he may be a bit early, he said he has been traveling the state,and people want to know if he's going to run again.

"I thought it appropriate to just formalize it and say, 'Yes, I'm going to run,'" Winney said Thursday in a telephone interview.

"I learned some lessons in the summer of '06, and I'm going to do better, one of which is starting earlier than I did then," he said.

He said he intends to continue talking to people and traveling the state.

"I found that when I stood in front of people, they liked what they saw, and 40 percent of the vote wasn't too bad a showing," he added.

By declaring early, he said, he hopesto begin raising money.

Originally from Virginia, Winney has been a resident of the state since 1978, after he camehere tohelp a friend build a cabin.

After his retirement from the Navy in 2002, he moved to Wyoming.

His home, under construction in Hoback Canyon in Sublette County, is 60 percent finished. Winney said he has been living in the upstairs of the garage since July 1.

Winney said he believes his experience and background make him the best candidate to represent the interests of all the citizens of Wyoming.

"We live in a dangerous international world, and a complicated domestic agenda will face the next Congress," he said in a release.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Winney served 30 years on active duty in the Navy, primarily in the nuclear submarine force. He also served six years in the Pentagon.

Capital bureau reporter Joan Barron can be reached at (307) 632-1244 or at joan.barron@casperstartribune.net.