Candidate filing period opens Monday

The candidate filing period for non-judicial offices in Nevada opens Monday and closes March 18.

Judicial candidates have already filed their paperwork with the Nevada Secretary of State’s office.

Those running for office in Churchill County will file at the Clerk’s/Treasurer’s Office on 155 N. Taylor St., during the same period. The Clerk’s/Treasurer’s Office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

The election year in Churchill County will be light with three openings for school board and two each for county commission and the Mosquito, Vector and Weed Abatement Board.

The school-board positions are currently held by Ron Evans, Greg Koenig and Kathryn Whitaker, who was appointed to the seat vacated by Steve Nunn.

Bus Scharmann and Carl Erquiaga are the current commissioners in Districts 1 and 3, respectively. Only two positions are up for election in the Mosquito, Vector and Weed Abatement Board, Sheldon Chip and Marion Jonte, who was appointed last year to a seat vacated by Ron Rudden.

Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske has urged candidates to call and schedule appointments to file. She said those who drop in without an appointment may have to wait until a staffer is available.

The filing period closes March 18 at 5 p.m.

Those who must file with the Secretary of State include all those seeking statewide and multiple-county offices starting this year with U.S. senator.

Also on the list are those seeking to be members of Congress, a number of state senators and assemblymen, regents and board of education candidates.

She said those candidates for the Legislature and other offices with districts located completely within one county file with their local county election officials, as do all county offices. Municipal office candidates file with their city clerk.

But all those representing districts that include more than one county must file with the Secretary of State’s elections division.

For this election cycle, that list consists of just one state senator, District 19 held by Pete Goicoechea of Eureka who represents part of Clark and Nye as well as Elko, Eureka, Lincoln and White Pine counties.

But several Assembly seats are multi-county including Districts 32 (Ira Hansen), District 33 (John Ellison, District 38 (Robin Titus), District 39 (Jim Wheeler) and District 40 (P.K. O’Neill).

Those filing for office need to provide proof of residence and pay the filing fee. Voter registration cards are not acceptable proof of residence nor is a document that lists a post office box.

The fee must be paid in cash, certified check or cashier’s check. Personal checks and credit cards aren’t accepted.

Filing fees are as follows: U.S. Senate, $500; Member of Congress $300; State Board of Education, $200; state Senate or Assembly $100; all county offices $100; any district office $30; no fees are required for offices that pay no compensation.

Early voting for the primary opens on May 28. The primary election is on June 14. The general election is slated for Nov. 8 with early voting taking place from Oct. 22-Nov. 4.