Election filing closes Friday

Low turnout has been the story for local candidates filing for office, which ends today.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Churchill County Clerk/Treasure’s Office reported only 13 individuals have filed for office. Surprisingly, the highest turnout for filing is the Mosquito, Vector Control and Weed Abatement Board, while no one has submitted paperwork for the Public Administrators Office.

Erin Montalvo of the Churchill County Clerk/Treasure’s Office said today at 5 p.m. is the deadline for candidates to file for offices.

She said candidates can pick up and submit their applications at the Churchill County Treasure’s Office, 155 N. Taylor St. Residents who are running for the Churchill County School District Board of Trustees and the Mosquito, Vector and Weed Abatement Board must pay a $30 submission fee, and all other boards require a $100 fee. Payments must be in cash, money orders or cashiers checks.

She said applicants for this year’s election are low and slow. While no one has filed for the Public Administrator Office, there are also four openings remaining for the CCSD Board of Trustees.

“I’m not sure why there is such a lack of interest this year,” Montalvo said. “It is surprising though, especially with school board. It is a drastic change from the past several elections, though. The interest just isn’t there. We’re still hoping that residents will come in and file before tomorrow’s deadline.”

Jay Lingenfelter, meanwhile, filed for re-election on Tuesday for the office of Mosquito, Vector and Weed Abatement Board. Joe Jordan filed on Wednesday and will be a challenger.

Lingenfelter has lived in Fallon for approximately 23 years and has been on the Mosquito, Vector and Weed Abatement Board for the past three years.

“I believe I have been an asset to the board as well as the citizens of Churchill County, by making sound and economical decisions,” he said.

Joining the race for school board is Matt Hyde, who filed last week. He is running against Nona McFarlane, Steve Nunn, Clay Hendrix, Carmen Schank and Rich Gent.

As of Thursday, McFarlane, Nunn, Hendrix and Gent have not filed for re-election.

So far, the candidates who have filed include the following:

Kelly G. Helton filed March 3 for the Churchill County Clerk/Treasure seat. Helton has worked in the clerk’s/treasurer’s office for 27 years, moving up the ranks to office manager under retired Clerk Gloria Venturacci.

Tasha Hessey filed March 3 for Churchill County Recorder to succeed the retiring Joan Sims. She is the current deputy recorder and has been there for seven years.

Jamie Dellera filed March 5 for Churchill County Recorder. She has worked in county government for 20 years and maintained, processed and archived documents associated with various county offices.

Denise Mondhink-Felton filed March 3 for Churchill County Assessor, an office held by Norma Green, who is retiring. Mondhink-Felton has worked for the county for five years, initially as a legal secretary in the Civil Division of the district attorney’s office. For the last four years she has been employed in the Churchill County Assessor’s Office.

Churchill County Sheriff Ben Trotter filed for re-election on March 3. Trotter began his law enforcement career with the Fallon Police Department in 1995, where he was eventually promoted to sergeant. He was elected in 2010 for sheriff and has held that position ever since.

Jay Horsley also filed March 3 for Churchill County Sheriff. Horsley previously worked in the CCSO for 22 years and reached the rank of captain.

Churchill County District Attorney Art Mallory filed for re-election on March 3 for to the county’s top legal position. Mallory, who is running for his fifth term, is the only candidate to announce his bid for the position. He has been the DA since 1998 and first started with the county in 1992.

Matt Hyde is the lone CCSD Board of Trustees candidate, while incumbent Christy Lattin has also filed for re-election for the Mosquito, Vector and Weed Abatement Board.

Pete Olsen is the lone candidate, so far, for the Churchill County Commissioner District 2 seat.