More from the area's candidates

After spending about five weeks reassigned to another job, I'm back for a week to provide a few updates on Lyon County.

• A recent candidates' forum in Silver City brought a wide variety of candidates to the tiny town. An article on the forum ran in the Appeal on Wednesday, however, more went on than there was room for in the story.

After Charlie Lawson, Democratic candidate for county commissioner, took a little more than the allotted three minutes for his opening statement, moderator Erich Obermayr informed Republican Larry McPherson, "you can talk for four minutes."

"No, I can't," replied the laconic McPherson, evoking laughter from the audience. And he didn't. After a short biography, he simply promised to listen and serve the people.

Secretary of State Dean Heller, running for the 2nd Congressional District seat, said he was fully behind President Bush on staying the course in Iraq, even if it means troops stay there 10 years. "I support the troops," he said.

Heller added that if it eventually became the president's policy for withdrawing troops to set a general guideline, rather than a strict deadline, he would support that decision.

Daniel Rosen, an Independent candidate for the same office, has created a system by which, if he is elected, constituents could tell him how to vote on bills using the Internet.

Rosen said political corruption and lobbyists' influence affects every decision a politician makes. With his system, if members of congress merely do what the public wants, it would negate the power of special interests, he added.

The most animated debate came between candidates for Assembly District 38, incumbent Republican Tom Grady and Democratic challenger Cathylee James.

Grady insisted he was not running against anyone, just running for the office. "I respect my opponent and what she stands for," he said.

He said his philosophy is he only rents the desk for the time people want him in office.

James, a former military intelligence officer, alleged that Grady has maintained that the federal government should have more responsibility for health care than do state or local governments, which Grady denied.

"I don't have the answers on health care," Grady said. "If I had the answers, I would be a wealthy man." He added that no one else seemed to have the answers either.

James insisted that though she didn't have answers, she had ideas and was not afraid to question authorities about health issues.

"I have ideas. I collect ideas, and I shout them out there," she said.

Grady cited his work to try to solve the conflicts holding up the rebuilding of the Silver City Schoolhouse. Both candidates opposed Las Vegas obtaining water from Spring Valley.

• The Silver Springs Advisory Council, which will meet Monday at the McAtee Building, will accept nominations to fill two open seats on the board.

Elections will be held at the board's meeting Nov. 6.

Toni Anderson, June Mike and Norman Montecelle accepted their nominations Sept. 18.

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.