Amodei, Grady and Goicoechea file

Carson City Republican Mark Amodei filed Tuesday for his third and, under term limits, final term in the Nevada Senate.

His only official competition thus far is Independent American and perennial candidate Merritt "Ike" Yochum, of Carson City, who filed Monday.

Amodei, a lawyer, was touted as a potentially strong challenger for attorney general after George Chanos decided not to run for the office. But he declined, saying he has unfinished priorities on behalf of the capital and state workers and would like to stay in the Nevada Senate.

Amodei, 47, is chairman of the judiciary committee and a member of Majority Leader Bill Raggio's leadership team. He's also chairman the interim study committees on the Public Employee Benefits System and the Tahoe-Marlette water system.

He said he is hoping the PEBP committee will be able to make recommendations that will solve premium issues centered on Medicare-eligible retirees. He said PEBP must recognize that those retirees cost the system less because federal money covers their primary care costs and, therefore, should get a premium break.

He said that committee should also fix the situation in which some local governments and school districts have effectively dumped all their retirees into the state system. He said one solution might be legislation requiring that, "if you send your retirees to our plan, you've got to send your actives."

He said that way the state gets the younger, healthy workers as well as the older, sicker retirees.

In addition, two incumbent Republican Assembly members filed for re-election Tuesday.

Tom Grady is seeking a third term representing District 38, which includes Lyon County, part of Churchill and the eastern part of Carson City. He said his district's problems center on the fact Lyon is the fastest-growing county in the state. He said growth, plus attendant water issues, are his concern.

Pete Goicoechea, of Eureka, is also seeking a third term in the Assembly. He is in District 35. Goicoechea, one of the few ranchers left in Nevada's Legislature, said his district is focused on water issues.

"It seems to be getting worse and worse as far as the demands on (water)," he said.

He said rural Nevada has other issues to deal with as well, such as economic development.

And he expressed concern about the "erosion of powers delegated to local government."

Republican Mark DeStefano filed for state treasurer Tuesday saying he would maintain much of the operation now in place under Brian Krolicki.

"The treasurer's office, in my opinion, is the best run office in the state," he said.

DeStefano said he brings more than 20 years in finance to the job. He said he would like to increase the emphasis on the prepaid tuition program, increasing the number of people in that program from 11,500 to 20,000. He said he believes the future of Nevada depends on increasing the number of college graduates in the state which that program and the Millennium Scholarship program, both run by the treasurer, help advance.

Filing continues throughout the week and into next, closing May 12.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.