Former Yerington Mayor Tom Grady was headed for victory in Tuesday's Republican primary for Assembly District 38.
Final results were not available at press time because the vote-count machinery in Lyon County broke down, forcing election workers to count ballots by hand.
However, Grady collected 512 votes in Carson City -- more than double the 250 for Bud Southard. Roger Bishop, who dropped out of the race, won just 120 votes in the Capital and Don Wagner 119.
In Churchill County, Grady had 126 votes -- better than triple the number of his nearest competitor and more than half the total cast.
In Storey County, Grady won 255 votes to 135 for Southard, 100 for Wagner and 53 for Bishop.
Grady, 62, who served 13 years as mayor in Yerington, was expected to do well there, too. But Southard was expected to win his strongest support in the Dayton area. Grady said he expected to do well in Fernley.
Altogether, it was unlikely that Southard could overcome the lead Grady had built in those other areas of the multi-county district.
In addition to his service as Yerington mayor, Grady previously served on that city's council. He was executive director of the Nevada League of Cities for nine years before retiring at the end of last year and has nearly 30 years experience in the banking industry.
He said cities, counties and the state have to work together to solve the state's financial problems.
"Finances is the big issue," he said of the upcoming legislative session. "If we can solve the financial crisis of the state, we can solve the rest of the problems."
If his lead holds, Grady will face George Dini, son of Joe Dini who decided not to seek a record 19th term in the Assembly.
Dini, 49, is one of two brothers who manage the family casino and restaurants in Yerington.
