Minor party candidates qualify for ballot

Thirteen minor party and independent candidates have qualified for the 2010 ballot.

The five candidates running for the U.S. Senate had to collect 250 signatures of registered voters to qualify for statewide office. Candidates for non-statewide offices had to gather 100 signatures.

While they are referred to in the statute as "Independent" candidates, they will appear on the ballot as "Non-partisan" candidates.

The Senate race drew the most interest with four independents - Wil Stand, Jeffrey Reeves, Jesse Holland and Michael Haines - and Jon Ashjian, a Tea Party candidate.

In federal races, Independent Barry Michaels of Las Vegas qualified as a candidate in Congressional District 3, currently held by Democrat Dina Titus.

Two independents - Gino DeSimone and Aaron Y. Honig - and the Green Party's David Curtis, qualified for the ballot in the Nevada governor's race.

Independent candidates who will appear on county ballots are Dave Aiazzi, the Reno councilman running for Washoe commission, Brent Howard for Clark County Assessor, Sean Rowe in the Mineral County DA's race and Sarah Jensen for Storey County recorder.

Minor parties seeking ballot access with a slate of candidates have until May 6 to submit their petitions to the secretary of state's office. They need 10 percent of the last general election turnout to qualify - 9,083 valid voter signatures. Then they need at least 1 percent of the vote in November to automatically qualify for the 2012 ballot.

The four major parties in Nevada don't have to submit petitions. The Republican, Democratic, Libertarian and Independent American parties are automatically on the ballot.