In the space of a couple hours, I met at least a dozen candidates and talked about everything from tourism and Nevada’s economic development to homeless shelters to the rights of gays to the use of firearms on Peavine. I snacked on a soft caramel from the table of Reno City Councilwoman Sherrie Doyle, who’s running for reelection. I passed up a roll of Life Savers from Kathy Burke (for county recorder), a “Mike Robinson for Mayor” water bottle and a Mary Anne Decaria (for district court judge, dept. 12) emery board. I held one of the free puppies (adorable furballs of the Great Pyrenees/Australian shepherd variety) offered by the Republican Women of Reno.
I went home with sticky notes emblazoned with “Bill Berrum for Washoe County Treasurer” and a stress-relieving squeezable alarm clock nabbed from the “Bob Cashell for Mayor” table. The clock has Cashell’s slogan: “It’s time.” And if you’re wondering what, exactly, that time is, the clock’s hands are set at 9 o’clock.
Meet the Candidates Day at Shopper’s Square gave folks a chance Saturday to do just that—walk around and chat with the folks who run stuff when most of us aren’t looking. Unfortunately, several candidates said they weren’t terribly happy with the turnout.
“There were a lot of shoppers and a lot of candidates,” said Kathy Burke, who stopped by the RN&R office two days after the event, “but not a lot of voter-voters.”
David Love, a Democrat running for State Assembly Dist. 26 against Jan Gilbert, brought four grandchildren to the event. The kids, ranging in age from 5 to 9, were remarkably well behaved. Love told me that he’s getting a bit worn out from campaigning in his district that, after the redrawing of district lines in the last legislative session, now stretches from Incline Village to Cold Springs.
“It’s a large district,” he said. “And I’m getting tired of walking it.”
The district leans Republican, Love said. But that’s not his concern just yet.
“I don’t have to worry about the Republicans this time around,” he said. “But [if I win the primary], I’m going to have to win some of them over.”
How would he win Republicans over? Well, Love is a firm believer in building community, he said. That means libraries and parks, like the community garden that he helped start at Paradise Park when he was on a neighborhood advisory board.
Near Love’s table was that of Gerry Larrivee, better known as the Highway 395 Sign Guy. Larrivee, a Republican running for lieutenant governor against incumbent Lorraine Hunt, said he’s been thinking about running for this position for years. He wants to see a lieutenant governor “do something for northern Nevada.”
It’s frustrating, he said, to watch Reno City Council members engaged in warfare with petition-wielding citizens. A lieutenant governor might be able to use the position as a “bully pulpit” and weigh in on such debates.
“All this stuff going on is ruining this area,” Larrivee said. “And no one from the state comes in and says, ‘What are you doing?’ “
Two candidates for Reno mayor were perched at opposite corners of a space being used to stage a candidates’ forum in which incumbents and challengers were drilled by a panel of three throughout the afternoon. It was difficult to hang out and listen to the speakers, as there were no places to sit.
Mayoral candidate Robinson told me he was happy to have completed three mailings during the previous week. The renowned trench critic has been pleased with the support he’s received from voters who want to see a public vote on the trench.
“It’s building,” he said.
Brandon Siri, 17, was manning the Bob Cashell for Mayor table. I asked Siri why he thinks a Renoite should vote for Cashell.
“He’s lived in northern Nevada for many years,” Siri said. “He’s a good guy.”
Cashell, standing nearby, said people have seemed receptive to his campaign, sometimes too much so. He said he likes a good challenge.
“A little bit every now and then—just to keep a person alive,” he said, confidently.
Some distance away, near the mall’s entrance to Ben Franklin, stood H. Tom Orrell, the only mayoral candidate that I couldn’t reach for an RN&R story this spring. Orrell stood next to a large sign expressing his support for Question 2, the Protection of Marriage initiative that will be on November’s general-election ballot.
“I’m the only Reno mayoral candidate to take a position in favor of Question 2,” Orrell boasted. We talked a bit about Question 2. Orrell believes that gay unions shouldn’t be recognized by the state because this would “assure our children will grow up feeling loved and protected.”
“The strength of the people of our nation will always be in the hearts and homes of its citizens,” Orrell said, leaning across the table and punctuating his remarks by tapping my notebook. An Angel Moroni tie tack kept his neckwear from flopping. “All of our social and welfare problems would be alleviated in a day if Mom and Dad would simply return home.”
That’s probably true, I agreed. But what does this have to do with gay unions?
“Gay people can have unions,” he said. “Just don’t call it a marriage.”
“So you support gay unions if they aren’t called marriages?”
No, he most certainly does not.
If elected mayor, family issues would be on the front burner for Orrell. He supports making divorces harder to get and eliminating social and welfare programs that “make it easy for moms and dads to separate.” As mayor, he’d encourage families to return to traditional American values, pay off their home mortgages, set a little money aside for a rainy day and begin storing food in case of an economic downturn.
“What about downtown redevelopment?” I asked. “What about the casinos?”
“What about the casinos?” he answered. “They have a right to operate. … I think [gambling] is a plague on the nation.”
I wasn’t sure if I’d learned much from chatting with candidates or gathering fliers and assorted cute doo-dads.
Thankfully, the Republican Women of Reno were parked right by the exit in front of Savon. Turned out that cuddling 6-week-old puppies was a great way to recover from heady political discourse. The Republican women, who were snacking on Port of Subs sandwiches, told me that they have a fun time at their teas and club meetings. The club will be having five more Campaign Coffee events before the general elections. Terri Shannon, puppy purveyor, handed me a flier inviting women to, “Bring a friend or neighbor to learn what fun Republicanism IS!”
“We’re kind of changing the aura of our club,” said President Kathy Kubly.
“Do you want a puppy?” Shannon asked.