CEDA candidates’ forum set for April 25

The Churchill Entrepreneur Development Agency will host April 25 the first candidates forum for the primary election that will focus solely on the two Churchill County Commission races for Districts 1 and 2.

The breakfast to meet the candidates will be held at the Fallon Convention Center beginning at 7 a.m.

CEDA works with the city and county to develop or attract small businesses. Sara Beebe-Wolken, CEDA director, said the candidates will be asked questions regarding their viewpoints on businesses and growth in Churchill County. She said the audience will be able to ask the candidates questions.

Those include the two candidates vying for District 1 and three candidates from District 3.

Matt Hyde and Julie Guerrero-Goetsch, both Republican, are facing each other in District 1.

The seat is held by Dr. Justin Heath, who was elected in 2020 and is not seeking re-election.

Hyde and Guerrero-Goetsch are trustees on the Churchill County School Board. Hyde, a longtime employee of CC Communications, plans to retire from the agency at the end of this year if he wins the commission office. Guerrero-Goetsch is the administrative services manager for Churchill County.

Harry “Bus” Scharmann, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Greg Koenig in District 3, is not running. Koenig was elected to the Assembly.

The four candidates seeking election are Eric Blakey, Rusty Jardine, Todd Moretto and John Caetano.

Blakey serves as chairman of the Churchill County Planning Commission, serving for more than six years on that board. Jardine is the general manager of the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District and a former deputy district attorney. Moretto is a maintenance planner for Kennametal and owner of Auditory Sensations.

CEDA said Caetano will be in Arizona.

The first community candidates night has been locked in for May 20 and will be co-sponsored by The Lahontan Valley News, Fallon Post, Lahontan Valley Broadcasting and the Churchill County Republican Central Committee. Candidates Night begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Fallon Convention Center.

Candidates participating will be those from the two county commission districts, Justice of the Peace and Fallon mayor.