Larry McPherson
While many other Republican candidates, both the victorious and the defeated, spent the evening at the Peppermill in Reno, McPherson elected to stay home while Lyon County voters elected him to represent them on the county commission's District 2 seat.
"I'll have a soak in the hot tub and then go to sleep," he said before the final numbers came in. "Don't wake me up unless it's good news."
It was good news for McPherson as he defeated Democrat Charles Lawson 7,890 or 54.21 percent to 6,664 or 45.79 percent.
"Well you know I'm humbled, but I'm rather elated too," McPherson said. "I'm going to jump in with both feet, and I'm going to give the voters a damn good job."
McPherson said he was grateful to those who voted for him, donated funds and campaigned for him.
Lawson declined to comment on the results.
Commissioner Phyllis Hunewill was unopposed for the District 5 seat.
Turnout in the county was high, with 67.76 percent of registered voters making it to the polls for 15,138 total votes cast.
National issues seem to be motivating voters at the Dayton Community Center this year.
John Bailey, a Dayton resident and World War II veteran, supported the Democrats in the national races because of the war in Iraq.
"I hope the Democrats win everything," he said. "Any Republican that thinks the war in Iraq is a good thing is pretty stupid."
Mark Caldwell, of Dayton, refused to vote Republican.
"No Republicans," he said. "Democrats and Independents; anyone but Republicans, because I don't like the way they're running the show."
But Scott Killion, of Dayton, did just the opposite.
"I voted for all Republicans," he said. "I agree with being tough on terrorists, and their ideology is my ideology."
Kathy Walker, of Dayton, said she kept the negative tone of the campaign in mind as she voted.
"I voted for the ones that were the least nasty," she said. "I thought the campaign was very nasty this year."
• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.