Voter registration up more than 2,000 Early voting starts Saturday

“I think we have some interesting races this election, and people want to have a voice,” Elko County Clerk Win Smith said Thursday. “It’s great.”

The new figures from her office show there are 10,099 Republicans, 4,375 Democrats, 2,767 non-partisans, 725 Independent Americans, 117 Libertarians, 18 Green Party voters and four Natural Law Party voters registered. There also are 38 registered in the “other” category.

The final figures for registered voters for the 2010 general election compare with 9,081 Republicans in 2008, 4,092 Democrats, 529 Independent Americans, 87 Libertarians, nine Green Party voters, four Natural Law voters and 25 others registered for the 2008 election.

Voters can cast their ballots from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Elko Convention Center and from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. week days through Oct. 29 and from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 23.

The last day of early voting is Oct. 29, which is Nevada Day. Polls will be open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. only on that day, according to the clerk’s office.

There also is early voting in Carlin, Wells and West Wendover.

The early voting in Wells will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 20 and Oct. 27 at the Wells Justice Court, and early voting at Carlin City Hall will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 21 and Oct. 28. West Wendover voting will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 at the public library.

Smith said voters should be receiving sample ballots this week listing all the candidates and ballot issues for the Nov. 2 general election. Voters can see what precinct is theirs and where to vote on the sample ballots.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Elko Convention Center, Spring Creek Middle School, Lamoille Old School House and Jiggs Community Hall, as well as Carlin City Hall, Wells Justice Court and West Wendover Library.

The remaining areas of the county are mailing precincts.

Assembly, commissioners

Voters in Elko County will decide who should be this area’s representative to the Nevada Assembly, picking Republican John Ellison of Elko, Democrat Michael McFarlane of Spring Creek or Independent American candidate Janine Hansen of Elko.

A portion of Humboldt County voters also will vote on Ellison, McFarlane or Hansen as their representative.

Smith said the person winning the Assembly race will take office the following day, but all other state, county and local winners will assume office on Jan. 3, the first business day of the new year.

Voters also will be selecting two Elko County commissioners. Elko County Commission Chairman Charlie Myers, a Republican, is running against Independent American John Everhart, and Republican Jeff Williams is facing Allison King, an Independent American candidate.

Sheriff, assessor

Those at the ballot box also will be voting for Elko County sheriff, assessor, clerk, district attorney, recorder, Elko TV Board members and a representative to the Elko Convention and Visitors Authority.

Wells, Carlin and West Wendover have city elections on their ballots, too.

Jim Pitts and Ken Wellington are battling for the sheriff’s spot, after knocking out Sheriff Dale Lotspeich. They are non-partisan candidates.

The assessor candidates are Republican incumbent Katrinka Russell and Independent American candidate Michael Lee Smith.

The clerk candidates are Carol Fosmo, Republican, and William McKnight, Independent American.

The district attorney candidate, Republican Mark Torvinen, has no opposition.

The recorder race is between two Republicans, Natalie Roach and Mike Smales, but Republican Treasurer Rebecca Erickson has no opposition.

ECVA board member Ruben Abeyta is being challenged by Todd Valline. They are non-partisan candidates.

In the Elko TV Board races, Doris D’Asto and Paul Gardner are vying for Seat A, Ken LeBarts and Charlie Myers Jr. are seeking Seat B, Steven Guitar and Tyler Gunter are running for Seat C and James Elliott and Juanita Karr are running for Seat D.

They also are non-partisan candidates.

In addition, Republican Janyce Jenkins and Independent American Kay Dawn Jenkins are seeking the public administrator position.

Carlin, Wells, Wendover

In Carlin, Mayor Clifford Eklund is challenged by Councilman Lincoln Litchfield, and three candidates are seeking the two open council seats: incumbents Donnetta Skinner and David Trujillo and Steve Feasel.

In Wells, the candidates for mayor are Kenny Huff and Rick Brodsho, and there are five candidates for one seat on the council: Dean Berry, Bryan Hewett, Matt Holford, Terry Madison and Layla Walz.

In West Wendover, the top three vote-getters will win the three open seats on the council. The candidates include Beth Bellio, incumbent Roy Briggs, incumbent Emily Carter, Jimmy Carter, Jamey Christie, Izzy Gutierrez, Tony Pereira, incumbent Alan Rowley and Scott Weyland.

Earlier council candidates Buddy LaCombe Jr. and Paul Rodd have withdrawn their names from the race, according to West Wendover City Clerk Anna Bartlome.

Their names are on the ballot, however, since they dropped out too late for their names to be removed, Smith said.

Voters also will need to decide between non-partisan candidates Margaret Puccinelli and Kevin Melcher, both of Elko, for the higher education system’s Board of Regents representative for rural Nevada.

U.S. Senate

At the U.S. Senate level, voters will be deciding on one of the most heated races in the nation.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is facing tight competition from Republican challenger Sharron Angle, with the latest Las Vegas Review Journal and 8NewsNow poll done by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research showing Angle with 47 percent of the vote and Reid with 45 percent.

Voters also have other choices beyond Reid and Angle. Jesse Holland of Spring Creek is one of the Senate candidates also on the ballot. He is an independent candidate.

The voters will be deciding whether to re-elect U.S. Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., or pick Democrat Nancy Price, or Independent American candidate Russell Best to represent Nevada in the U.S. House.

Governor

At the state level, those casting ballots will be picking the next governor in a race between Democrat candidate Rory Reid and Republican Brian Sandoval, who beat out Gov. Jim Gibbons for the chance at the state’s top post.

There are several other candidates on the ballot for governor, as well, who are listed on the county’s sample ballots.

Voters also will elect a lieutenant governor, choosing to re-elect Brian Krolicki, a Republican, or elect Democrat Jessica Sferrazza or Ryan Fitzgibbons, Independent American candidate.

Secretary of State Ross Miller is facing Republican Rob Lauer and Independent American candidate John Wagner, with Democratic Treasurer Kate Marshall is facing Republican Steven Martin and Independent American Party candidate Mike Hawkins.

Controller Kim Wallin, a Democrat, is facing Republican Barry Herr and Independent American candidate Warren Markowitz.

Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat, is challenged by Independent American Joel Hansen and Republican Travis Barrick.

For the two non-partisan Nevada Supreme Court seats, there is no competition for James Hardesty and Ronald Parraguirre, who are both on the ballot.