Heller: Don’t put Pahrump in Las Vegas

Rep. Dean Heller and other Republicans plan to fight to prevent new Congressional boundaries from putting Pahrump in a district that includes Clark County.

The print-only Tonopah Times-Bonanza reports in its Jan. 13 issue that Heller, R-Nev., said despite Pahrump's location within a 60-mile commute to Las Vegas, the town and surrounding Nye County "aligns itself better with Elko than Clark County."

With an estimated population of about 38,000, Pahrump is the most populous Nevada community outside the major population centers of Clark County and the Reno-Sparks-Carson City area. It is part of Nye County, the third largest county by area in lower 48 states.

The state legislature is scheduled to redraw state and federal legislative boundaries during its upcoming 120-day session which begins Feb. 7.

The redistricting is based on U.S. Census results and will increase Nevada's presence in the House of Representatives from three to four seats. Currently, District One, represented by Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Las Vegas, is considered a safe Democratic seat. District Three, currently held by Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., has swung between Republicans and Democrats.

Heller's District Two seat, which includes a small portion of Clark County, and covers virtually all of rural Nevada as well as Reno has never been held by a Democrat.

"One thing I want to reiterate: I want to keep Pahrump in my district," the paper quoted Heller. Later, he added: "I have heard discussions of the fourth seat actually going up into portions of Washoe County. If that is the case I'm guessing parts of Nye County, I don't know if Pahrump is, will be included in that. I hope that isn't the case."