Ex-Nevada GOP chairman Amodei chosen for House race

SPARKS -- State Republican central committee members selected former state Sen. and party Chairman Mark Amodei on Saturday as their nominee to fill Dean Heller's 2nd Congressional District seat.

Amodei, a Carson City lawyer, received 221 votes compared with 56 for state Sen. Greg Brower of Reno and 46 for former Navy Cmdr. Kirk Lippold of Carson City.

Whether Amodei is the only Republican candidate on the ballot or one of 15 who already have filed their candidacies depends on what the Nevada Supreme Court decides.

The court will hold a June 28 hearing to determine whether the race will be a free-for-all open to all candidates, or a race limited to central committee nominees.

Secretary of State Ross Miller decided even before Heller was appointed in May to the U.S. Senate by Gov. Brian Sandoval that the special Sept. 13 election would be a "ballot royale" open to all comers, under his interpretation of state election laws.

But the Republican Party appealed and District Judge James Todd Russell ruled the election should be limited to the central committee choices.

Miller then appealed that decision to the state's highest court.

If the court does not make a quick decision, the date of the election could be pushed back.

One candidate who won't be running is Brower. He and Amodei pledged just before Saturday's votes to drop out if the central committee didn't pick them.

That was to reduce the field and give the Republican candidate a better chance to win.

But Lippold, making his first run for public office, said he was in the race to stay and intends to be on the ballot for the next full race in November 2012. The special election is being held to fill what's left of Heller's term.

In making that announcement, Lippold said he recognized he might lose some of the delegates' votes since it would appear he is not a team player.

Amodei, known for his sense of humor during a 14-year legislative career, took a positive view about America's future during a speech before the vote.

"We forget what an incredible country and state we have," said Amodei, who recently resigned as party chairman after a year in the office.

He also is a former president of the Nevada Mining Association and currently a member of the Colorado River Commission.

During his speech he defended his vote to approve more than $800 million in tax increases during the 2003 legislative session. Brower had questioned that vote in challenging Amodei's conservative credentials during a debate Wednesday.

Amodei said that vote helped stave off an attempt by others to impose a gross receipts tax, which he said would have been deplorable for business.

He also said he opposed tax increases in 2009 because "it was a dumb policy to raise taxes during a recession."

In an interview after his selection, Amodei said he was anxious to begin fundraising and head into a grass-roots campaign against the Democratic nominee, who he expected would be state Treasurer Kate Marshall.

Marshall is expected to become the Democratic Central Committee choice when members meet in Reno on Saturday.

Former higher education Regent Nancy Price, who in November lost the 2nd Congressional District election to Heller, also is in the race and is expected to draw limited support.

Nine Democrats are running for the seat. Their delegates also are expected to ask them if they will support the central committee nominee.

A Democrat has not won the 2nd District seat since it was created in 1982. The district covers all of Nevada except the highly populated urban sections of Clark County.

Analysts have predicted the Democratic candidate could win if the election is a free-for-all and Republicans split their votes.

There are nearly 30,000 more active registered Republicans in the district than Democrats.

Lippold said Nevadans need someone of his "rock hard integrity and strength of character" to represent them in Washington.

Although he attended Carson High School with Amodei, Lippold is a political unknown.

He gained a national reputation as commander of the USS Cole when it was attacked in Yemen in 2000. Seventeen sailors were killed in that attack.

"We can no longer afford business-as-usual politics," Lippold said.

He told the crowd how the terrorist explosion affected him. He said that after the blast, he initially grabbed a 9 mm gun and headed out to "defend my crew, my nation."

"I have experienced the horrors of terrorism first-hand," Lippold said. "I never want to feel that pit in my stomach again. Trust me; they are targeting us. They will be back. They want to kill you."

Lippold has been endorsed by former Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, R-Nev.

Each declared candidate who drew at least one committee vote was allowed to speak. That excluded Daniel Miller, who said he has been a successful candidate in Washington state and expects to make a showing in the 2nd District race.

Four independents and one Independent American also are candidates.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.