Newcomer tops Assembly straw poll

The big surprise in a straw poll conducted by the Douglas County Republican Central Committee on Friday was a 16-vote lead by Johnson Lane resident Jim Wheeler in the Assembly District 39 race. Wheeler took 48 votes compared to opponent Barbara Smallwood, who had 32 votes. Tahoe resident Janet Murphy received 22 votes and three-time Douglas County commissioner Kelly Kite got 17 votes.

Sue Lowden may be the favorite Harry Reid-toppler statewide, but the 129 people who cast ballots showed a preference for Sharron Angle on Friday.

Angle received 47 votes in the poll conducted at the committee's candidates' forum at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Danny Tarkanian received 34 votes and Lowden received 22.

Gov. Jim Gibbons was a favorite with Douglas Republicans receiving 58 of 121 votes cast in the straw poll. North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon received 43 votes and Brian Sandoval got 20 votes.

The poll also saw former Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick leading incumbent Ted Thran in the race for clerk-treasurer 61 votes to 46. Challenger Stephanie Brooks received four votes.

Central Committee Chairwoman Maggie Benz said the turnout was good both for attendence and the candidates. She said they expected between 200 and 240 people.

"We started with the senate candidates, who were each given five minutes to speak," she said.

Senate candidates Angle, Lowden, Tarkanian, and Bill Parson attended the event. Candidate Chad Christensen sent a surrogate.

"About half the senatorial candidates weren't there," Benz said.

Republicans heard from the governor and Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, who won his straw poll handily over opponent Barbara Lee Woollen.

"Everybody had a chace to introduce themselves and answer questions," Benz said. "We had sent out a memo to all of central committee members to generate questions they were interested in having answered. A committee went through those and we got them out to candidates prior to the meeting. They were all advised of the questions ahead of time."

Benz had praise for master of ceremonies Len Semas and the buffet prepared by Tahoe Ridge Winery.

"Len has done this sort of thing frequently, he was great," she said. "And Tahoe Ridge did a fabulous job."

Benz said she encouraged candidates in the general election to participate in June 12 Carson Valley Days parade.

"If I were a winner I sure wouldn't miss that parade," she said.

Tuesday is the last day to register to vote or change party affiliation.

Early voting starts on May 22. The primary election is June 8.

US Senate

129 votes cast

Sharron Angle 47

Danny Tarkanian 34

Sue Lowden 22

Bill Parson 18

Chad Christensen 8

US Congress, District 2

127 votes cast

Dean Heller 119

Patrick Colletti 8

Governor:

121 votes cast

Jim Gibbons 58

Mike Montandon 43

Brian Sandoval 20

Lieutenant Governor:

126 votes cast

Brian Krolicki 121

Barbara Lee Woollen 5

State Controller

76 votes cast

Barry Herr 69

Gregory Dagani 7

Attorney General

110 votes cast

Jacob Hafter 98

Travis Barrick 12

Capital Senate District

128 votes cast

James Settelmeyer 120

Steve Yeater 8

Assembly, District 39

119 votes cast

Jim Wheeler 48

Barbara Smallwood 32

Janet Murphy 22

Kelly Kite 17

Douglas Clerk-Treasurer

111 votes cast

Lynn Hettrick 61

Ted Thran 46

Stephanie Brooks 4

Conducted by the Douglas County Republican Central Committee at their forum on Friday.