Published August 6, 2008
The Nevada primary elections take place next Tuesday, August 12. While the primaries are often discounted by voters as confusing and unimportant, we would strongly encourage Moapa Valley residents to exercise their privilege and vote in Tuesday’s elections. After all, there are crucial issues at stake that will have a significant affect on this community. Probably the most important of these is the Republican primary race for the County Commission District A.
The Republican District A race was thrown upside down about a week ago by an eleventh hour court decision. On July 25, just a day before primary early voting began, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that long-time incumbent Bruce Woodbury was ineligible to run for another term. This decision was based on a technicality in the timing of a 1996 voter initiative instituting 12 year term limits.
The fact that Woodbury is no longer an option to represent this community is, of course, bad news for the Moapa Valley. But because the decision came so late, the primary ballots had already been printed and Woodbury’s name still appears as a candidate. This strange circumstance which puts an ineligible candidate on the ballot, offers up an equally strange opportunity to Overton voters; an opportunity that may bring a ray of hope to this, otherwise dark, situation.
First of all, the other two Republicans on the ballot may not be the strongest candidates. Duane Christy is completely new to the political scene. He has absolutely no previous experience in public service or politics. Thus, the idea of Christy jumping right into one of the most powerful elected positions in the state is something of a stretch. In the unlikely instance that Christy were to advance past the primary, there is very little chance of him actually being elected. Brian Scroggins, on the other hand, is a somewhat more attractive candidate. He brings some experience in civic service and in Republican politics. Certainly, he should be commended for his willingness to think ahead and boldly put his name out there on the ballot as backup to Woodbury. But up until the court decision was made, Scroggins had, out of respect for Woodbury, stayed in the background. He raised no funds and thus, lacking deep pockets of his own, has no war chest to campaign on. He is certainly an honorable candidate; but, though his intentions may be pure, his chances seem rather slim.
All of this may be somewhat discouraging to residents of the Moapa Valley. The District A seat has tremendous importance to us. This community desperately needs to retain a strong voice on the Commission that represents our unique rural values and generally conservative politics as Woodbury has done for so long. But, with Woodbury being tossed out as an option, the hope of that strong voice being there for us is dim. Still, there may be a silver lining in this strange circumstance. In fact, it is right there on the primary ballot. The fact that Woodbury’s name still appears as an option sets up a very unusual and unorthodox alternative.
Though he is not eligible to run, Woodbury is still a viable choice for Republican primary voters. If Republicans insist on voting for Woodbury and he receives the most primary votes, it would bring the Clark County Republican Party Central Committee into play. Since Woodbury is not an eligible candidate, the Party would be called upon to choose a new candidate that is eligible. But, (and here is the strange part) the party would not be limited to choosing solely from the two other candidates on the ballot. Rather the County GOP could select anyone. They could, thus, tap a much wider pool of possible candidates, including the two already on the ballot, and choose the strongest possible contender for the General Election. It may also bring some comfort that we could safely assume Woodbury himself would have a strong voice in that selection process.
Well, this may not be such a bad idea, really. Who knows how many viable candidates there may be, that would have run for the District A spot, but did not because they knew that Woodbury would be on the ballot? After all, no one seriously expected that the Supreme Court would take this turn at the last minute. There is a good chance that there are potential candidates out there, with deeper pockets and campaign funding resources at the ready, who would be more formidable contenders in the general election than those currently being offered on the primary ballot.
It is admittedly a strange circumstance that Republican voters have been thrown into. But strange times require strange measures. A vote for Woodbury is not a wasted vote. Rather it would open the door wide to allow for the selection of the strongest possible candidate. If the strongest candidate is one of the two that appeared on the primary ballot, they will, no doubt, be selected by the Party leadership. If not, though, why not open that door wide enough to allow the strongest possible candidate to be selected.
Either way, Overton Republicans should certainly consider well how they vote in this primary election. In many ways, the whole community is depending on them. All options should be weighed carefully and a sensible vote should be made. By all means, don’t let the confusion keep you from the ballots on Tuesday. In any case, the option to vote for Woodbury should certainly not be lightly thrown aside as foolish. It may, in fact, be the best option for the Moapa Valley.
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
Comment on this story. Send a letter to the editor by email, click here: EMAIL US
