Supporting education, creating jobs and growing the clean energy industry were recurrent themes among candidates that attended the Washoe County Democratic Party Caucus on Saturday in the Wooster High School gymnasium.
Gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid was the headliner of the event, which featured three state constitutional officers as well: Secretary of State Ross Miller, Treasurer Kate Marshall and Controller Kim Wallin, all of whom are running for re-election.
Although not a presidential election year, party leaders consider this year's elections important for state and local offices.
Marshall pumped some enthusiasm into the caucus rally of about 250 when she introduced Reid, currently chairman of the Clark County Commission.
She said one proposal at the Legislative special session was to sell state buildings.
"Then I realized they don't want to sell state buildings," Marshall said. "All they really want to do is put out a banner over the governor's office that says 'under new management.'"
Reid wasted no time slamming the current state leadership.
"Nevada has a governor," he said. "But given what you've seen the last few years, I'd better explain what a governor is supposed to do because you haven't seen it."
More economic opportunity and a better education system are the job, Reid said.
"A governor's job is to describe honestly where we are as a state and to tell us how get from where we are to a better place," Reid said.
Reid has campaigned on diversifying Nevada's economy and creating needed jobs. He also has spoken out about the need for Nevada to use its resources to create renewable energy plants. Other issues that were outlined when he announced his bid for governor include helping small and startup businesses access capital, making education a higher priority when it comes to spending and accountability and establishing a Nevada Energy Fund to promote the development of alternative energy technology and jobs.
Reid referenced a Colliers magazine article 55 years ago that featured the state of Nevada on its cover. The article described the Silver State as having booming tourism, some mining and agriculture, a poor education system, a porous social safety net and a boom and bust revenue flow.
"Does that sound familiar?" he said. "I'm running for governor because we need to change the end of that story."
In varying degrees, each of the state officers intoned the same mantra, touting the Democratic Party's progressive posture.
Miller pointed to efficiencies he's built into his office to attract new businesses.
He said the state's future would be paved by building "the best educated and skilled workforce of any state in the country."
Marshall called attention to savings that the state has realized under her leadership as treasurer.
"I have renegotiated contracts and saved you millions of dollars," she said.
And Wallin talked about improving the state's collection of debt to the state.
Lieutenant governor candidate Robert Randazzo, a former airline pilot and executive and local business owner, tied his experience in business and job development to the lieutenant governor's role overseeing the state's economic initiatives.
Washoe County Commissioner Kitty Jung spoke about her re-election and on behalf of Reno City Councilwoman Jessica Sferrazza, who is a candidate for lieutenant governor.
Sferrazza was attending a conference in Clark County in an effort to build more name recognition in the south.
Reno Justice Court Judge Pete Sferrazza, who said he was running for re-election for perhaps the final time, said it is vital for Washoe County Democrats to be active in the upcoming election.
"It's extremely important for a strong Democratic turnout, especially in the primary," he said. "If we don't have a strong turnout at the primary, it won't be a good turnout at the general.
Candidates for Assembly Districts 25, 26, 27, 30, 31 and 32; candidates for various judiciary seats; and the county clerk and treasurer offices did not attend the caucus.
As no county precincts had more candidates than the number of delegates, all those seeking those positions were voted in.