In a surprise move, Lynn Hettrick filed Friday for the Douglas County Clerk/Treasurer's seat.
Hettrick served 14 years in the Nevada Assembly from 1993-2006. He was minority leader of the Republicans from 1997-2006 and co-speaker of the Assembly in 1995 when Republicans and Democrats were split 21-21.
For the past nine months, he has been deputy chief of staff to Gov. Jim Gibbons and made clear he doesn't intend to leave Gibbons' staff until after the elections.
"Gibbons is on the right path and doing the right things," he said. "Government is going to have to shrink.
"I think the counties are going to be going through a lot of what I've been working with Jim Gibbons on for the past nine months."
Hettrick said one area he may be able to help with is lobbying before the 2011 Legislature.
"I can bring some administrative skills and a lot of knowledge about the process," he said. "I worry about what the state is going to do to the counties."
He said the counties have a solid lobbying team but that he may be able to add something to it.
"If I go there and get involved we'll have a chance to do better things."
Hettrick turned 66 today.
Incumbent Ted Thran, who was appointed to the seat in 2008 when Barbara Griffin resigned, is also running.