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Colorful characters file to enter races

Two candidates who gave themselves eye-grabbing nicknames on the ballot filed Wednesday to run for office.

Thomas “Sad Tom” Heck of Reno filed to run for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat of outgoing U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Thomas Heck says he’s not related to U.S. Joe Heck, R-Nev., also running for the Republican nomination. The Heck in Congress is the well-financed GOP front-runner considered a lock for the nomination in the June 14 primaries.

Thomas Heck’s political experience isn’t quite as storied.

“I ran for my seventh-grade class president and I won,” Thomas Heck a 62-year-old retired Air Force officer, said, describing his past experience in office.

“I’m just sad about all these things that are contrary to American values and beliefs,” he added.

He promises to run as a “nonpolitician” who will lessen the government burden on people and tell things as he sees them.

The Clark County Commission is attracting colorful candidates, too.

Chris “RINO” Dyer of North Las Vegas is running on the Republican ticket for the District B commission seat held by Democratic commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick.

Kirkpatrick was appointed last year after Tom Collins resigns and is running for office. Las Vegas Councilman Steve Ross is also running for the Democratic nomination.

Dyer, a 43-year-old electrician, was refreshingly honest about his plans if elected.

“Not sure,” he said. “I don’t know what the commission really does.”

He said a friend asked him to jump into the race so he decided to file.

Dyer has made three failed runs in GOP primaries before, twice for Congress and once for lieutenant governor. The Ron Paul fan said he’ll probably focus on making government smaller, but he’s realistic.

“There’s no way to beat Marilyn Kirkpatrick in the district,” he said.

Dyer said he chose his nickname, an acronym for “Republican in name only,” because he’s more libertarian than Republican. He said he won’t be surprised if elections officials force him to remove the nickname.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1

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