Fisher's backing of Pike doesn't settle rep race

By James R. Campbell

Nevada Daily Mail

Republican Party officials in Vernon and Bates counties say State Rep. Barney Fisher's endorsement of Bates County Northern Commissioner Randy Pike in the race to pick Fisher's successor by no means negates the chances of Vernon County candidates Barbara "Barb" York or Bill Yarberry.

Vernon County GOP Chairman Jerry Wadel of Richards and Bates County Chairwoman Winifred Gaston of Butler said Tuesday that the term-limited Fisher is respected; but they said Pike must hit the campaign trail to find supporters in the bigger county to the south and that he could still fail to gain a plurality in the Aug. 7 GOP primary, which will be tatamount to election with no Democrat in the 126th Representative District contest.

Vernon County has 21,159 citizens to Bates' 17,116, according to the 2010 Census. The Vernon County Clerk's Office reported 11,478 registered voters on its active roll Thursday and Bates County reported 10,882.

"Barney's endorsement might carry some weight, but Barb York is an energetic person who has a lot to say for her candidacy," said Wadel, whose executive committee had asked York to run.

"Barb has worked hard for the rights of animal producers both in the pet industry and in the hog and beef industries. She has good conservative principles and a good understanding of the proper role of government.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say Pike leans toward progressivism, but he has been part of getting government grants and so on, which tends to put him alongside big government and gives him some ties to that type of thinking," Wadel said.

"You can make a case that if we don't get that money from the federal government, somebody else will. But whenever you get money in the form of federal grants, it's always got strings attached."

Asked if Fisher has enough influence, in effect, to choose his successor, Wadel said, "It might carry weight with those voters who know Barney well, but with the vast majority who aren't personally acquainted with him, I'm not sure how much it carries.

"I don't know which of the candidates will end up getting the nomination, but competition is a good thing. It forces them to sharpen their thinking and really think about what their policies stand for."

Having encouraged Pike to seek the post, Gaston said he must run an energetic campaign and personally ask as many voters for their support as possible. "You never know about these things," she said.

"I think Randy could win it, but he needs to work at it. It's an asset that Barney has endorsed him because Barney has done an excellent job. He is well-liked and has always worked at it really hard.

"Randy has had a lot of experience," Gaston said, adding she is uncertain if Yarberry and York will make things easier for Pike by splitting the Vernon County vote. "He is very active in organizations and has always been a good, honest, hard-working man who depends on the Lord to help him.

"I have always thought a candidate needs to work. They can't depend on winning without working and they need to get in and know the issues."