GOP ‘Super Chief’ Bus Makes Stop In Mesquite

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

Leadership candidates for the Nevada State Republican Party paid a visit to Mesquite last week during a tour of the state to shore up support. And a few notable local Republicans were there to see them off

On Monday, Aug. 16, Washoe County Commissioner Michael B. Jack, who is running for state GOP Chairman, and Lincoln County Commissioner Varlin Higbee, who is running for State Vice Chair, made a last-minute stop in Mesquite on Monday afternoon. They made a stop at the Mesquite Airport travelling in style on the famous Super Chief tour bus once owned by country music star Merle Haggard.

The eye-catching custom-built tour bus is now owned by country Singer Dale Houston, who is touring with the candidates. He lent them the use of his bus for the tour.

The sleek looking bus has the old train logo Super Chief, Santa Fe on it. Haggard had been granted the rights to use the logo since 1984. His father worked for the Railroad and he was always on the trains.

That would explain why the bus has six sleeping berths with curtains, just like the sleeper cars on the old Super Chief trains.

The stop in Mesquite was part of the Rural Nevada tour which began Monday in Pahrump and ended Saturday in Gardnerville, Nevada at the annual Basque Fry.

Mesquite resident Nic Alfonsetti, a Republican Activist and founder of Mesquite Concerned Americans hopped aboard the Super Chief for the bus tour. There to greet the candidates and see them off was Virgin Valley resident and former U.S. Congressman Cresent Hardy.

The tour gives the candidates a chance to meet Nevada’s rural residents, even though their race will not be on a general ballot. The State Chair is voted on by Nevada State Republican delegates only. Michael Jack is hoping to replace Michael McDonald, current NVGOP Chair since 2012.

There has been much publicity about the Republican party’s Clark County organization. Several disruptive meetings have been held in a battle over the Chairmanship of the Clark County GOP. But Jack and Higbee are running for the Nevada State Republican Committee Chair and Vice Chair seats.
Jack and Higbee both come from long-time, deep-rooted Nevada Families.
“Our hope is to restore GOP prominence in Nevada,” said Jack.

Jack added that he believes the Chair should be watching and planning to help the down-ballot GOP candidates get elected, not just working the top of the ticket.

Jack also believes there needs to be a change in the representation in the state. He cited the problems with Clark County having the largest population and the most votes also having the most control. This leaves the rest of the state without good representation for their needs, he said.

“I want to reinstate the legislative committees,” Jack said. “We need to make Nevada Red Again.”