Republican Congressional Candidates Speak Before Republican Women’s Group

CARSON CITY — It’s starting to look at lot like campaign season.
Three Republican candidates for Congressional District 2 tried to sell their candidacies to about 100 members of the Nevada Federation of Republican Women at an event at the Plaza Hotel today.
Many of the women in attendance are members of the state party’s central committee, which will nominate one candidate from a field that includes Nevada Republican Party Chairman Mark Amodei, state Sen. Greg Brower, former U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle and former commander of the U.S.S. Cole, Kirk Lippold.
Angle could not attend due to a scheduling conflict, but the other three spoke at the luncheon and touted conservative talking points — no new taxes, small government, fiscal responsibility — while also talking about who they are and what they can do for the congressional district.

Nevada State Republican Party chairman Mark Amodei speaks to the Nevada Federation of Republican Women, the members of which will help select the party's nominee for Congressional District 2.

Following a lower court ruling earlier this week, the Republican and Democratic parties must select a candidate for a September 13 special election. Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., vacated the seat after Gov. Brian Sandoval appointed him to replace outgoing Sen. John Ensign, who resigned following mounting pressure from investigations into an extramarital affair.
Secretary of State Ross Miller, a Democrat, is appealing the court’s decision. Miller has argued that Nevada law calls for what he said is a  ”ballot royale,” an election allowing on the ballot numerous candidates from each political party.
In the meantime, candidates are operating under the assumption that their own parties will select one of them. Democrats have already thrown their weight behind Treasurer Kate Marshall.
But in the Republican field, four candidates are vying for the party’s nomination. The party’s central committee members plan to meet June 18 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks to select the candidate.
“For these few weeks, those 351 central committee members will be more popular than they ever dreamed of,” Amodei said.
Amodei spoke earlier this morning at the Nevada Truck Driving Championship in Reno, where he spoke from the bed of a truck in blue jeans and an Army windbreaker.
Speaking to about 70 truck drivers, he stressed the trucking industry’s importance to Nevada.
“We get it,” he said.
Later, wearing a suit at the Republican women’s luncheon, he cast the race as a job interview. He said he would be the best person for the central committee to “hire” as their candidate because he has the most experience with the issues of the northern Nevada district.
Amodei served in the state Senate before leaving due to term limits.
“We need an advocate to lead us in CD2,” he said.
Brower spoke to the women’s group next, touting his extensive public service — he is a former Assemblyman and a former U.S. Attorney — and playing to the crowd.
“Women’s groups really are the backbone of this party,” he said.

State Sen. Greg Brower, R-Reno, said he is the best candidate for the job, saying he's "in the trenches down here" at the Legislature everyday.

Brower, who was appointed to replace retiring Sen. Bill Raggio earlier this year, said he has the strongest conservative record.
“If I feel I am the best candidate for the job, I feel compelled to volunteer,” he said.
Lippold spoke last.
He stuck to familiar Republican mantras of personal responsibility and fiscal restraint while also highlighting his record on defense.
Breaking from the views of some Republicans, he said legislators need to scrutinize how money is spent at the Department of Defense.
“The Department of Defense is not working with the same efficiency and effectiveness as they used to,” he said.
During the next month, the candidates will have to convince central committee members that their personal traits, political philosophy and professional style should earn them the nomination.
“I don’t think anybody is going to come to you and say Obamacare is just right,” Amodei said. “We know what’s going on here.”