Foothill resident files for Congress

Foothill resident and former gubernatorial hopeful Dr. Fred Simon Jr. filed for the Second Congressional District on Thursday.

As of the end of the week, the Republican is the only candidate to file for the seat presently held by longtime Rep. Mark Amodei, who announced he will seek re-election in August.

The district covers much of Northern Nevada and is overwhelmingly Republican, therefore the race will likely be decided in the June primary.

As of the end of the year, Amodei had $410,755 cash at the end of 2023, according to the Federal Elections Commission. Simon essentially self-funded his 2022 campaign for governor with $1.25 million of the $1.5 million he reported raising, according to his filings with the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office. It will be the second time he has sought a seat in Congress after running in San Diego in 2014.

Simon came in sixth in the statewide primary race for governor, receiving 6,856 votes statewide and 1,801 votes in Douglas County, according to the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office.

Amodei has served in Congress since 2011 and easily defeated a challenge from Douglas County Commissioner Danny Tarkanian in 2022. Tarkanian hasn’t indicated whether he will seek another term on the county commission. Douglas County Republican Party Chairman and Gardnerville Ranchos General Improvement District trustee Jim McKalip filed for the District 1 seat on Monday.

The first week of filing wrapped up on Friday with only one local county race between Gardnerville Ranchos residents Melinda Gneiting and Steve Pruitt for two-term School Board Trustee Linda Gilkerson’s District 5 seat.

Appointed trustee Yvonne Wagstaff, Zephyr Cove resident Erinn Miller and Gardnerville resident Markus Zinke filed for the three other school board seats.

No county commission races have been set, yet.

Douglas County Republican Women Past President Janet Freixas filed for the Douglas County Commission seat held by Walt Nowosad, who said he isn’t seeking another term.

County Commissioner Mark Gardner was first to file on Monday for his District 3 seat.