WINNEMUCCA — The newly formed Winnemucca Republican Women met Wednesday evening in the first of a series of meet & greets leading up to the 2010 election. Known as Winnemucca Wednesday, the event was attended by many local candidates as well as state candidates such as  Sue Lowden, candidate for US Senate, Bill Parson, Candidate for US Senate, and Jodi Stephens, candidate for Nevada State Assembly District 32.

SPJ asked the candidates to make five statements about themselves:  1) Name one thing you would like the voters to know about you, 2) Name one thing in your background that lends itself well to the office you’re seeking, 3)  Refute one thing that’s been said about you that’s either unfair or untrue, 4) Give the primary reason you decided to seek this office, and 5) Give one promise you’re willing to make to the voters; one promise that will never be forgotten.

Jodie Stephens is seeking the seat formerly held by Don Gustavson, who decided to run for State Senate after just one term in the Assembly.  Originally from Hawthorn, where she still visits her folks at least twice a month, she now makes her home in Sparks with her family. 

Asked what the voters should know about her, Stephens said,  “I’m a go-getter.”  She added when she sees an issue she looks at what needs to be done to get it fixed – then takes action.  She said she’s very frank, open and honest when talking with the voters because people are sick of double-talk; they want their representatives to be open and honest.

Stephens was the legislative director for Governor Jim Gibbons and worked very closely with state legislators over the last three years.  She said, “I know the people, I know the policies, I know the process; I will hit the ground running.

Stephens is in a very good place as a political candidate.  When asked what was being said about her that was unjust or untrue, she replied to date nothing negative has been forwarded, for which she was grateful.  She added the work of being a candidate has kept her too busy to notice anything negative.

While some people have said it’s a crazy time to run for office -- especially the Legislature due to the increased problems with a shrinking budget.  The next group of legislators will have the job of filling a $3 billion hole in a $6 billion budget.  But Stephens disagreed it’s the wrong time to run for office saying “It’s a great time.”  She said she decided to run for office because she wants to effect change, and to have a seat at the table as the issues were discussed.

The one promise Stephens made to the voters, “I will always work hard and do my best.”

To learn more about Jodi Stephens visit her website:   www.jodistephens.com

Sue Lowden is a former State Senator and Chairman of the Republican Party, a business woman who has also worked as a teacher and a journalist.  Although she comes with quite the resume, if she is to challenge Harry Reid in November she must beat 11 other candidates in June.

Lowden is not relying on name recognition to get her through the primary.  She pointed out she has put 4,000 miles on her RV traveling across Nevada and meeting with voters.  She said her goal was to make every effort to introduce herself to voters so they can get to know her and become comfortable with her.

One thing Lowden wants the voters to know:  she knows what it is to make a payroll. As a business owner she believes more common sense --  business common sense --  is needed in Washington D.C.

Lowden said one of the things that’s been made a campaign issue that is unfair is her former support of Harry Reid.  She said as she travels she meets people just like herself who formerly supported the senator but who have since become disappointed in the decisions he’s made.  She commented, “He has not supported Nevada; he’s turned his back on Nevada.”

She said she decided to seek a seat in the US Senate because she was angry about what was going on in Washington DC.  She commented, “I was frustrated at what we’re leaving generations to come.”  She noted bailouts and taxes will only leave future generations with deficits.

The one promise she made the voters was she would not forget the rural counties.  She reminded voters as chairman of the Republican Party she served the entire state – just as she would if elected to the US Senate.

To learn more about Sue Lowden visit:  www.suelowden.com

Bill Parson:  A former military man and currently in private business, Bill Parson said he’s seeking the office of US Senator to help restore the fundamentals of the US Constitution to the government.

Parson was on hand Wednesday evening with pocket copies of the US Constitution to pass out.  He commented, “I am a strict Constitutionalist.  I believe if it was not the original intent of the founding fathers when drafting the Constitution then the federal government has no business being in it.”

He said his 23 years experience in the military will be beneficial to him in the US Senate because he saw first-hand many of the issues being discussed -- such as foreign threats, economic flow, and the budget of the federal government.  He claimed, with some disgust, that there has not been a positive balance of trade in any month since 1975.

Parson acknowledged there has been some criticism of him because he has never been in politics before and is now seeking one of the highest offices.  But he intends to continue talking to the voters and commented he would let the voters of Nevada judge for themselves.

He said one of the reasons he decided to run for the Senate was due to his disappointment with current office holders.  A life-long Republican, Parson said he’s been embarrassed by some of the candidates selected during past primary elections because of how they behaved once elected.  He commented, “They lacked the character to live up to the Constitution and the Republican Party Platform.

One promise Parson was willing to make and stick by was an effort by him, if elected, to repeal the 16^th Amendment (which created a direct income tax).  He also said he would put forward legislation for Congressional term limits.  Whether or not he was successful with that, if elected he pledged to only serve two terms. 

For more information on Bill Parson visit:  www.parsonforsenate2010.com

The next Winnemucca Wednesday will be held April 28 at 6 p.m. in the meeting room at Ormachea's Dinner House. For more information contact WRW President Tracy Guinn at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .