WINNEMUCCA — With four weeks left to go before polls open on June 8 for primary elections, and with just 12 days until early voting begins, Sue Lowden rolled into town Monday morning to make the case she’s the best candidate for the US Senate seat currently held by Harry Reid.

Lowden has tough competition in the Republican primary. She plans to keep ahead of the pack with smart advertising and an aggressive travel schedule that will allow her to meet as many voters as possible.  Her message to Humboldt County voters, “I care about your town and I care about your issues.”

The Monday morning reception was facilitated by Gina Rackley. The two met at the Lincoln Day Dinner four years ago and hit it off immediately.

“Sue is a real person and is easily approachable,” Rackley said. “You can ask her any question and she will answer you.  She is smart and does her research.”

She added, “If people would just take the time to sit down with her when she comes to their towns and ask her personally what her ideas are and share their ideas then I believe that they too will agree that Sue Lowden is the best candidate to send to Washington DC to change the way of the career politicians.”

Lowden’s Monday reception was organized to give voters one-on-one time with the candidate. Rather than stand at the podium, Lowden joined the voters at their tables where she was quizzed on the issues.

“I like Sue Lowden because she isn’t a candidate who is running straight down the party line,” Rackley added. “Some of the other candidates are running on a Republican vs. Democrat stand – not Sue.” 

Also attending the reception was undecided voter Roberta Rothwell, who’s still making up her mind between Lowden and Danny Tarkanian. She said with a laugh, “I just know it won’t be Harry Reid, that’s for sure.”

Rothwell said she likes to go to candidate’s events and just watch in an effort to determine if the candidate is sincere.  She notes, correctly, that all the politicians are coming to town and promising to create jobs and do something about immigration.

What Rothwell is looking for is someone who’s really listening as they interact with the voters.    Candidates who pretend to listen then roll their eyes a moment later will not get Rothwell’s vote.

Rothwell has met Lowden before. At that time she appeared sincere and Rothwell was impressed with the things she had to say and her past experiences.  Now, she worries Lowden is just another politician who says what she thinks the voters want to hear but isn’t going to follow-through.

Rothwell joked she hopes the answer comes to her soon since early voting is about to start. She said laughing, “I’m looking for an epiphany.”

Addressing attendees, Lowden told voters it was time someone who knows what it is to be in the private sector, in business, go to Washington.  She described herself as a businesswoman who knows what it is to make payroll and tough decisions about health care -- both for her family and business.

In addition to her business experience, she was a former state senator and chairman of the Nevada Republican Party.

On the issues she said she’s pro-gun and pro-life. While she hasn’t always been pro-life, which her rivals have noted, she has converted to that position. She asked, “If there’s no room for converts then where are we going in the pro-life movement?”

She said the attacks are coming from rivals who are desperate because they’re behind in the polls, but it should make voters look at the integrity of those individuals.  She said, “People go negative because they’re losing. Shame on them.”

On the issue of taxation Lowden said she supports lowering the payroll and corporate tax. She argued if working people had more money they would spend it, which benefits the economy, and when businesses have more money they’re able to expand and hire additional employees, also an economic plus.

When asked about potential changes to the laws governing how mines are taxed, she said she would oppose that effort but acknowledged it’s a state issue and not a federal one. She advised the voters to fight back against the mine-tax effort, which will probably be a ballot issue, in order to protect the industry and the jobs that stem from it.

In terms of what she could do at the federal level, Lowden said she would work to shorten the amount of time it takes to open a new mine on public lands.

 

Lowden's bus is on loan from a supporter. She said how grateful she is for the use of because, among many reasons, it as it allows her to travel with her family.