Dixon rolls up big victory for Storey County clerk

Incumbent Vanessa Dixon won big against former Storey County School Board member Rollie Hess on Tuesday, 71.24 percent to 28.75 percent.

Dixon said she was honored by the results.

"It's great to have the confidence of the people like that," she said. "I look forward to the next two years."

Hess said he didn't take the loss personally.

"I wish Vanessa well and hope she does a good job for the county," he said. "In the big picture of life, friends and family are the most important things. This is one election in a small town in America. We worked hard, we gave it a hell of a shot, it just wasn't meant to be."

Dixon received 1,438 votes to Hess's 725, winning the job she was appointed to by the Storey County Commissioners following the death of her predecessor, Lorraine Du Fresne, in 2007.

Dixon's margin was not quite as large as Du Fresne's was in the 2006 election, when she defeated Craig Givant 76.16 percent to 23.84 percent.

Commissioners Greg "Bum" Hess and Bob Kershaw ran unopposed for their seats.

Turnout was high in the county, with 1,005 voting early and 340 voting Tuesday by 5 p.m. at the Virginia City fire station. Storey County has about 4,200 residents.

Poll worker Sue Jones said turnout was steady, but with so many early voters the volunteers were not overwhelmed, and folks took the time to talk a bit.

"It is a nice steady visit of friends and neighbors, catching up on all sorts of stuff," she said. "It's too cold to stand and talk over the fence, so we wait for voting day."

- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-7351.