Early voting for primary begins this Saturday

Early voting for the primary election begins Saturday and all eyes as far as Churchill County voters are concerned will be on the county commission race and U.S. Senate..

Incumbent Carl Erquiaga, who was first elected in 2008, is seeking his third term on the commission. He is challenged by Bill Slentz, a Fallon businessman and former trustee on the Churchill County School Board.

A change in the voting law enacted by the last Legislature dictates there will be a primary election for those offices that have two or more candidates from the same party, which also includes nonpartisan.

For example that means the county commission race that features two Republicans will be decided next month instead of November.

For the Republican side of the U.S. Senate the list includes nine candidates.

The expected frontrunners’ however, are Rep. Joe Heck on the Republican side and former Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, the Democratic favorite.

Catherine Cortez Masto appears to have a clear path to the nomination on the Democratic side.

Congressional District 2 is also on the ballot but incumbent Mark Amodei’s name won’t be before voters yet since no other Republican filed. Three Democrats — Vance Alm, Chip Evans and Rick Shepherd — will fight it out to see who takes on Amodei. Drew Knight who listed no party and John Everhart, the IAP candidate, aren’t in the primary battle.

In District 39, Incumbent Republican Jim Wheeler faces Mark Lera in the primary. In District 38, incumbent Robin Titus faces no opposition until November.

Churchill County has two nonpartian races which will be decided in June.

Running for school board’s three seats are Phil Pinder, Tricia Strasdin and Kathryn Whitaker.

Sheldon Chipp and Marion Jonte are the only candidates for two openings on the Mosquito, Vector and Noxious Weed Abatement Board.

Early voting runs through June 10 and is held at the Churchill County Commissioner chambers.

The commission chamber will be open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. both Saturday and June 4.

The office will be closed Monday, Memorial Day but open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. all other days during early voting.

It ends just four days shy of the June 14 primary election.