EDITORIAL: Choices for US Senate & Congressional seats

The elections for U.S. Senate and Congressional seats across the country have an especially added weight and gravity this year. Given the impossible choice presented to voters in the current Presidential election, the role of these two legislative bodies will be increasingly vital as a necessary check against whatever madness comes from the Oval Office in the coming four years. As such, Moapa Valley voters will have the opportunity to cast votes in two races that could affect the balance of power on Capitol Hill. These are the races for U.S. Senate and for Congressional District #4.

The Nevada U.S. Senate seat has been thrown wide open because of the upcoming retirement of long-time Senator Harry Reid. Of course, Reid has already openly given his blessing to Democrat candidate Catherine Cortez-Masto, whom he has long groomed to succeed him. He has selected Cortez-Masto as the one who will best provide continuity to his long legacy in the Senate seat.

Unfortunately, Mr. Reid’s legacy, specifically in recent years, has been of precious little benefit to the rural communities of the state. On the contrary, Mr. Reid has generally ignored the wishes of rural residents and has often steamrolled over rural folks with a heavy-handed liberal agenda. His actions have often proven detrimental to small town economies. For one local example, his pandering to the dictates of a left wing, national environmentalist agenda has forced the eventual closure of Reid Gardner Power Station in Moapa; once a major local employer and bulwark of our regional economy.

That same enviro-wacko agenda has also led Reid’s efforts to strip the public away from public lands in the false name of conservation. His dastardly role in the designation of the Basin and Range National Monument, over the protests of his rural constituents in Lincoln County, is just one prime example. His obstinate, hard-line advocacy for a similar fate in Gold Butte is yet another. And his backroom involvement in orchestrating the BLM’s iron-fisted treatment against a general law-abiding northeastern Clark County citizenry during the weeks surrounding the Cliven Bundy showdown was perhaps the most despicable example of all.

The stated positions and ideas of Cortez-Masto on these and other vital issues indicate that, if elected, she will likely be continuing that Reid legacy well into the future. Thus the rurals can probably expect more of the same treatment. In any case, one thing is clear. If the past dozen or so years (and the current campaign) is any indication of future results, we will see very little of Cortez-Masto in Moapa Valley should she be elected. After all, the only time we have seen evidence of Senator Reid here is when he is either closing our neighboring public lands or shuttering our local industry. And we have seen nothing of Cortez-Masto.

By contrast, Moapa Valley has seen significant past engagement from Rep. Joe Heck (R). Between 2010 and 2012, when our communities fell within his district, Heck made frequent visits here. He spent time with local leaders to understand the issues important to our communities. He listened to our wishes and then went to work to fulfill them. Once again, if past experience is any indication, Heck would continue to be a fierce advocate for rural areas if elected. For this reason the PROGRESS endorses Joe Heck in the race for U.S. Senate.

The race for Congressional District #4 is simply a variation on the same theme. Ruben Kihuen (D), is another candidate anointed by Reid. And his positions on the issues fall lock-step in line with those of his mentor. Kihuen has likewise made himself remarkably scarce in Moapa Valley and other rural areas throughout the campaign. Frankly, we have seen neither hide nor hair of him here in Logandale, Overton or Moapa. He has never stopped in to meet local leaders or to listen to what is important to this community. And if he were to win, we have no reason to believe anything would be different after the election.

Congressman Cresent Hardy (R), on the other hand, is well known to the rural communities of his district. He has served us well in Congress for the past two years. Before that, he fought for us in the State Assembly, and prior to that he was an effective leader and respected businessman in his home town of Mesquite.

Hardy may not be the slickest of politicians. At times, you might find him stumbling over words to express his common-sense positions on the complex issues. He struggles with being politically correct and his skills as an orator are far from brilliant or compelling.
But this should not persuade anyone to underestimate his intelligence and capability for the job. Hardy has shown that he understands the issues very well. What’s more, he has an unwavering work ethic; a work ethic that could only come from the common-sense upbringing of a small-town life.

Hardy knows the rurals and their lifestyle inside and out. He understands the self-reliance of rural folks and their independence in dealing with local problems. But he also knows where the unique rural needs lie, and he has proven himself capable of standing up for those needs.

Perhaps most importantly, Hardy is a humble, honest and respectable man. He is among the rare, and perhaps endangered, breed of true citizen legislators. He has set aside a quiet, comfortable, rural lifestyle and has gone to Washington; not to seek power or fame; but because he aims to be a part of a solution. He simply hopes to help steer the nation that he loves toward a more prosperous future.

Unfortunately, in today’s world of professional politicians like Mr. Reid and his understudies, a person like Hardy has become a complete oddity. When one is encountered, he/she is prone to mockery from sophisticated cynics and morally bankrupt political hacks everywhere. Indeed Hardy has suffered just such derisive criticism over the past two years.

But make no mistake! Cresent is the real deal. He is what he says he is, and he does what he says he will do.
The fact is, Hardy is the only suitable choice in the race for CD4. He is the only suitable choice for Moapa Valley residents; the only suitable choice for folks in Virgin Valley; and the only suitable choice for the other rural residents in the district. In fact, Hardy’s homespun, straighforward and honest approach even makes him the only suitable choice for his urban constituents as well. We only hope that enough of them realize it before Election Day.

The PROGRESS endorses Congressman Cresent Hardy for Congressional District #4.