Julie Guerrero-Goetsch
Julie Guerrero-Goetsch is the latest candidate to file for the Churchill County Commission.
Guerrero-Goetsch said she’s seeking the District 1 seat currently held by Dr. Justin Heath. The Fallon physician, who first won election for the commission in 2020, said he wouldn’t file for a second term.
District 3 also opened with current Commissioner Harry “Bus” Scharmann not running for another term. He was appointed to a two-year term when former District 3 commissioner Greg Koenig was elected to the Assembly in 2022. Filing for local and state offices opens March 4 for two weeks. Matt Hyde has also announced his intent to file for District 1.
“Churchill is facing a unique time in our leadership history, and with two open commission seats, and come January (2025) when those seats are sworn in, our senior commissioner will have only two years of service,” she said. “Now, more than ever, experience matters.”
Earlier this month, Guerrero-Goetsch, the administrative services manager for Churchill County, said she’s has had an interest in serving on the commission for years. She has been with the county for 20 years and added she’s willing to give up her current position to serve as a commissioner. Guerrero-Goetsch said she understands how the county departments work and also understands property rights, water resources, small businesses and the value of local governments serving local community interests.
“I had this unique opportunity to serve with many commissions over the past 20 years, and I have been able to observe leadership and leadership styles and areas of commitment,” she told the LVN. “I know what the job requires, I know what the job needs and aside from the dedication and commitment and experience, you have to list to people you serve, and I have loved working with and for people and helping them.”
Currently, Guerrero-Goetsch, who moved to the valley 24 years ago, is serving her first term on the Churchill County School Board. She was one of four candidates in 2022 who won election. She said one of the reasons she ran for the school board is her passion for supporting the community’s youth, and that passion will be just as strong if she win’s election to the commission.
Guerrero-Goetsch said she is equally passionate about the military community, both the many retired veterans who now call Churchill County their home and the servicemen and women who serve at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center and the Nevada Army National Guard. She is also a supporter of the conservation easement program, which protects agriculture around the naval air station and its associated ranges as long as it’s compatible with the Navy’s mission.
According to the county, “NAS Fallon has partnered with Churchill County to provide funding to purchase the conservation easements and development rights on properties within a designated buffer area.”
“The conservation easement program is near and dear to my heart,” she said. “I get to work on a program that helps our farmers, our agriculture landowners and helps protect the area around NAS Fallon, which is a win-win situation.”
Guerrero-Goetsch said she’s able to work with these landowners and ensures their farms and properties stay in agriculture and that their water rights stay in the Lahontan Valley. She said the conservation easement program also protects other economic pillars such as the county’s renewable energy producers and local businesses.
“All of those make up the backbone of our community and our economy,” she added.
As a commissioner, she would also oversee the expansion of the Fallon Range Training Complex, which was approved by Congress in late 2022.
Guerrero-Goetsch said she has a love and respect for the military. Her husband, Brad, completed 27 years in the Navy and retired as the commanding officer of NAS Fallon. She was also involved with the Fallon chapter of the Navy League.
With the county’s aggressive desire to diversify during the past 14 years, which has followed the “Great Recession of 2008,” Guerrero-Goetsch said Churchill County continues to expand its economy with its natural resources. She cited the Dairy Farmers of America milk plant, which opened almost a decade ago, and credits former commission chairman and local dairy producer Pete Olsen for persuading the DFA to build Fallon.
Now, Churchill County has taken a bold, yet successful step in attracting different events to the area with the completion of the Rafter 3C Arena in 2022 and improvements to the fairgrounds. She said the county is experiencing the positive impact from the various events coming to Fallon.
Recently, she said more than 1,000 residents attended the Republican caucus, and the Rafter 3C Arena provided the perfect venue for voters. Guerrero-Goetsch said the county is feeling the impact the increased tourism is having on local businesses such as the stores, restaurants, motels and hotels and gas stations.
“If you build it, they will come,” she said, referring to the memorable line from the movie “Field of Dreams. “This is a perfect example of this.”
Two candidates nights co-sponsored by the Fallon Post, Lahontan Valley News and Churchill County Republicans will be held in May and October prior to early voting. Candidates seeking local offices, school board, Assembly District 38 and the Board of Regents District 9 will be invited to attend.