DAYTON -- There will be one less candidate in the crowded Republican Primary race to replace retiring Assemblyman Joe Dini.
While it is too late to remove his name from the Sept. 3 primary ballot, Roger Bishop is withdrawing from his third attempt at election to the Assembly District 38 seat and throwing his support to fellow Republican and Dayton resident Bud Southard.
Speaking at the Aug. 3 Lyon County Republican Central Committee meeting in Silver City, Bishop said he believes Southard, presently chairman of the Central Committee, will adequately represent his concerns in the state Legislature.
"After discussing the issues with him, I have chosen Bud Southard as the candidate I will support and ask that my constituents do the same," Bishop said.
Southard is seeking his first political office. He is currently Chairman of the Central Committee and vice chairman of the Carson Council of the U.S. Navy League. He is a retired Navy chief and has an administrative background as industrial facilities manager.
Southard was grateful for the added support.
"I am obviously very pleased. This endorsement will definitely prove to be helpful," Southard said Monday.
Tom Grady, former mayor of Yerington and recently retired director of the Nevada League of Cities; and Don Wagner, a Yerington business owner and former Sacramento County regional district director, round out the Republican primary candidate list.
