Assembly District 40

Here is a video of Wednesday's candidate night hosted by the Carson City Chamber of Commerce. This video is the four Nevada legislative candidates who hope to represent Carson City.

Four Nevada legislative candidates who hope to represent Carson City took to the microphone Wednesday night at the Carson City Chamber of Commerce candidate forum.

Each touted their qualifications, noting their conservative credentials and their commitment as Republicans to tackle a legislative body dominated by southern Nevada Democrats.

The Carson City Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Primary Candidate Forum tonight at the BAC Performance Hall. The forum can be viewed live here and on Charter Cable Channel 191.

Carson Now will be following the forum with live Twitter coverage and photos, followed by a wrap up at the end of the forum.

Carson City voters are invited to meet and hear the candidates for Sheriff, Nevada State Senate and Assembly and Carson City Supervisor at the Chamber’s Primary Candidate Forum scheduled tonight at the BAC Performance Hall beginning at 6 p.m.

The Sheriff’s primary race has four candidates seeking that office and will be reduced to two or could be won in the primary negating the necessity for a general election vote. This race is of the most interest to the voters.

The purpose of my letter is to express my hearty support for PK O’Neill. I have personally vetted both Republican candidates for the Assembly seat in Assembly District 40. Of the two, Mr. O’Neill responded to my questions promptly and gave answers that convince me he is the stronger candidate in standing for the rights of Nevadans.
Equally important as his answers was the fact that he took the time to discuss the issues, and in doing so, showed his willingness to truly serve the people. My vote is for PK!

The choice of the best candidate to send to the general election is an important decision that must be made by the voter.

Carson City voters are invited to meet and hear the candidates for Sheriff, Nevada State Senate and Assembly and Carson City Supervisor at the Chamber’s Primary Candidate Forum scheduled at the BAC Performance Hall on Wednesday, May 21 beginning at 6 p.m.

Carson City voters are invited to meet and hear the candidates for sheriff, Nevada State Senate and Assembly and Carson City Supervisor at the Chamber’s Primary Candidate Forum scheduled at the BAC Performance Hall on Wednesday, May 21 beginning at 6 p.m.

The sheriff’s primary race has four candidates seeking that office and will be reduced to two or could be won in the primary negating the necessity for a general election vote. This race is of the most interest to voters.

At the general meeting and finial candidates forum held on April 24, 2014, held at Silver State High School, the members of the committee voted to endorse the following Republican candidates for 2014 elections.

A Republican candidate for Assembly District 40 said he rejects the idea of being vetted by the Carson City Republican Central Committee, a policy the committee has in its bylaws.

Candidate Jed Block stated earlier this week that he was informed that a "secret Republican Vetting Committee" asked to see him in a closed meeting. He called the committee "a handful of self-promoted political bosses" who would "inform, if not instruct, the so-called rank-and-file how to think, how to vote."

On Tuesday, March 25th, Jed Block, Republican candidate for Assembly District 40, sent the following statement to the Vetting Committee of the Carson City Republican Central Committee. Assembly District 40 encompasses Carson City and portions of Washoe County:

"In Carson City, a recently created, secret Republican Vetting Committee informed me – as an announced Republican candidate for AD 40 – when to appear before them. The closed meeting may not even be observed without an invitation.

Carson City native John "Jed" Block entered the race Friday to become the Republican candidate for Assembly District 40 saying that he feels well-qualified to represent the district because of his extensive familiarity with the needs of citizens.

CARSON CITY — Former Nevada law enforcement official "PK" O'Neill, filed Tuesday at the Secretary of State's office, as a Republican candidate for Assembly District 40. The seat is currently held by former Carson Supervisor and retiring two term Assemblyman Pete Livermore, who is endorsing "PK's" candidacy.

He described O'Neill as "a once in a lifetime candidate." Pete said, "I wholeheartedly endorse him and am giving my total support to "PK" O'Neill on becoming the next representative for Assembly District 40."

John Wagner, a retired engineering instructor with Sony and 15-year-resident of Carson City filed Monday for the position of Assemblyman from District 40 held by Pete Livermore who decided not to run. Wagner filed as a member of the American Independent Party.

“After the two major parties, having caused major damage to the people of Nevada with massive tax increases and regulations, it is time for a change. The citizens of Nevada deserve better,” stated Wagner.

Carson City educator and state Board of Education member Dave Cook is running for the Nevada State Assembly District 40 seat.

The fourth generation Nevadan and Democrat is running largely on an education plank, saying the state faces important challenges to improve all students' learning experience and ultimately increase the statewide high school graduation rates.

In a statement today, Assemblyman Pete Livermore, who represents Carson City in the Nevada Legislature, submitted the following to Carson Now:

One of the core principles of conservatism has always been the concept of limited government which demands giving citizens more control on how they shape their local environment and policy, which by extension places more emphasis on local government and the ability of the citizen to participate in the democratic process, giving more access of the citizen to their locally elected officials.

Final: 9pm update: Election night coverage for Carson City; 100 pecent of precincts reporting including early voting and absentee for Carson City races:

Carson City Board of Supervisor Ward 2
Brad Bonkowski 10781 votes; 53.90
Dennis Johnson 9221votes 46.10

Carson City Board of Supervisor Ward 4
Jim Shirk 10,335 votes; 50.06
Molly Walt 10,310 votes; 49.94

Carson City Question 1
Yes 7,3274 votes; 31.77
No 15,622 votes; 68.23

Carson City School Board District 2
Laurel Crossman 12,317 votes; 65.89
Donnie Moellendorf 6,377 votes; 34.11

School District 7
Joe Cacioppo 10,610 votes; 55.17
Alice Mueller 8,622 votes; 44.83

Justice of the Peace Department 1
Tom Armstrong 13,873 votes; 69.65
Michael Bell 6,045 votes; 30.35

Assembly District 40
Pete Livermore (R) 12,773 votes; 57.16
Rich Dunn (D) 9,574 votes; 42.84
See full list below.

An issues and candidate forum hosted by the League of Women Voters will be at 6 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Oct. 18 at the Carson City Library Auditorium. There will be a presentation by candidates for Assembly District 40; candidates for the school board and a discussion on the merits of Nevada's Ballot Question 1 that, if passed, would change the state's constitution and allow the Legislature to bring itself into special session.

Local politics gets into full swing when the Carson City Chamber of Commerce will host its Soup's On Supervisor Candidate Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 23. Featured at the luncheon will be the contestants for the Carson City Supervisor Ward 2 race, Brad Bonkowski and Dennis Johnson and Ward 4 contestants incumbent Molly Walt and Jim Shirk. Questions will be fielded from the audience.

The forum will be at Gold Dust West, 2171 U.S. Highway 50 East in Carson City. The cost is $15 per person in advance and $20 at the door. RSVP by Oct. 19. Call (775) 882-1565. See the flier below.

Two candidate forums will take place in Carson City next week. Hosted by the League of Women Voters, the first is at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the Carson City Community Center. The topics are Question 1, the proposed City Center project for downtown Carson City. Following the pros and cons discussion of Question 1 there will be a Board of Supervisors candidate presentation for the two seats.

There were a few surprise candidates who threw their hats into the ring for this year's elections on the last day of filing.

(Update: Change in the candidates for school board, below)

Stacie Wilke-McCulloch, who currently serves on the Carson City School Board, filed to run for Carson City Board of Supervisors Ward 2. She joins three other candidates looking to succeed current Supervisor Shelly Aldean, who decided not to run again. Brad Bonkowski, Dennis Johnson and Maurice White are the other candidates.

Pete Livermore has announced he will be running for a second term representing Assembly District 40, which encompasses most of Carson City.

Livermore served on the Carson City Board of Supervisors until he was elected to the Assembly in 2010, edging out fellow supervisor Robin Williamson.

The following is the text of a press release sent out by Livermore today:

The Carson City Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting today at noon to approve the canvas of results from last week's election.

At the board's next regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 16, it will vote to appoint John McKenna to fill the remaining term of Supervisor Pete Livermore, who resigned last week after winning his election for Nevada Assembly District 40.

The board will also tackle funding for the downtown ice rink and holiday events, and the approval of a grant application for federal funds to support the proposed City Center/Nugget Project.

"You see, in our two-party system, the Democrats are the party of no ideas and the Republicans are the party of bad ideas. It usually goes something like this. A Republican will stand up in Congress and say, "I've got a really bad idea." And a Democrat will immediately jump to his feet and declare, "And I can make it sh---ier." — comedian Lewis Black

I'm not sure I've seen a better close-up example of a campaign attack backfiring than I did last night in the Assembly District 40 race.

Robin Williamson seemed to be doing everything right to fill the seat held by fellow Democrat Bonnie Parnell. She was working very hard, walking the neighborhoods, working with both Democrats and Republicans to gather the coalition she needed to win in this GOP-leaning district.

And then the Nevada Democratic Party stepped in and screwed it up.

I turned off the TV late last night, unable to withstand another minute of talking head after talking head trying to come up with a narrative for this election.

For some reason, it seems they think that their audience is comprised of 6-year-olds who can't comprehend anything that isn't force-fed to them in tiny, single-concept bites.

Was it the NObama election? Was the the fiery phoenix of the Tea Party? Was it creeping socialism, or simple arrogance? What about government spending? Or was it just time to throw the bums out?

By Sean Whaley / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – There will be no supermajorities for Democrats in either the state Senate or Assembly in the 2011 session, meaning the parties will have to work together and with Republican Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval on issues from taxes to redistricting.
Republicans in the 42-member state Assembly, who had been outnumbered 28-14, retained their seats and picked up two held by Democrats, enough to take away a veto-proof majority held by Democrats in the 2009 session.

Carson City Republican Pete Livermore has won the Nevada Assembly District 40 race against Democrat Robin Williamson, costing the party a crucial seat against Republican Governor-elect Brian Sandoval.

Livermore received 51.42 percent of the vote in Carson City and within a sliver of Washoe Valley. Williamson had 48.58 percent of the vote.

"I'm humbled and grateful that so many have shown trust for me," Livermore said. "I'm eager to get started so we can get people back to work."

With all precincts, early voting and absentee ballots counted, here is the still yet unofficial percentage breakdown for Carson City elected positions.

Sheriff:
Kenny Furlong 60.75
Bob Guimont 39.25

Supervisors Ward 1:
Karen Abowd 54.14
Rob Joiner 45.85

Supervisor Ward 3
John McKenna 63.65
Day Williams 36.35

School Board District 1
Ron Swirczek 50.53
Julie Bushner 49.48

School Board District 6
Barbara Myers 54.52
Randy Carlson 45.50

Assessor
Dave Dawley 76.65
Ian Mindling 23.35

Carson City School Bond Passes 55.44

State questions
1: no 65.25
2: no 61
3: no 68
4: no 71

State Senate
James Arnold Settelmeyer 65.88
Kevin Ranft: 29.14

Assembly District 40
Pete Livermore: 51.42
Robin Williamson: 48.58

Before you head to the polls tomorrow (if you haven't voted early), you might want to check out the candidate expense forms to see who is backing our local candidates. The Secretary of State's website doesn't have all the latest forms online yet, but here are the links to the ones they do have:

Nevada Assembly District 40
Pete Livermore
Robin Williamson

Dear Editor,

Several negative mailers featuring Assembly candidate Pete Livermore were sent out recently to Carson City homes.

These ads were sponsored by the Nevada State Democratic Party, which hired an outside firm to produce the pieces. They claim Livermore got a "sweetheart deal" from the city when it purchased land he owned in order to widen Clearview Drive.