Special election to replace Heller

As reported last month, U.S. Senator John Ensign (R) resigned on May 3. The political punditry predicted that Governor Brian Sandoval would appoint Congressman Dean Heller to serve out the remainder of Ensign's term and they have been proven correct. Heller, who had already announced he would run for Ensign's seat, joins Harry Reid as a U.S. Senator from Nevada - at least until the 2012 election, when he is expected to face stiff Democratic opposition.

Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller.
Photo © Stan White

According to Nevada law, Sandoval has seven days from the time Heller's seat becomes open to call a special election and he has set election day for September 13. The early voting period will be August 27 through September 9. Jockeying for position is well underway. So far, close to a dozen potential candidates are lined up at every point of the political compass. Secretary of State Ross Miller has issued his directive regarding interpretation of the state law about special elections (this has never happened before in Nevada) - the election will be open to all candidates who qualify and file the necessary paperwork, not just major party candidates, and there is no primary involved.

Sandoval could have avoided an expensive special election by appointing a caretaker to the seat and leaving Heller where he was. However, politics seems to have dictated Sandoval's move, with little concern for the expense involved in running an election. In Washoe County alone, Registrar of Voters Dan Burke predicts a cost in the neighborhood of $350,000. It will run into the millions statewide. I'm pretty unhappy about this - while slashing the budgets of our schools, universities, and virtually every other public service, Sandoval is willing to waste money on something that could have been easily avoided. Seems that our no new taxes, fiscally conservative governor is quite capable of spending taxpayer money when it suits his political purposes.

Source: Reno Gazette-Journal, Nevada Secretary of State.

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