With very little name recognition, Fourth Congressional District Republican candidate Mike Monroe surprisingly earned more than 22 percent of the vote in the 2014 election, compared to winner and current incumbent Cresent Hardy’s 42 percent.
Monroe previously ran for the District I congressional seat in 2006 and 2010.
As a carpenter, Monroe makes his living working on homes.
One of his main platform issues is the scourge of the meth epidemic in rural areas of Nevada, especially Pahrump.
“I want to pass legislation that will bring down crystal meth,” he said. “That is one of the main tenants of my platform. I remember the sheriff once saying that it’s great job security, but he would rather be fishing. We need to find the pothole and fix the pothole.”
Monroe said back in 2014 he tried to get around and put down his platform during that campaign.
He said he relies on his personal life experiences as his qualifications to run for the office.
“I think everyone can participate in the political experience if they are interested in running for office,” he said. “If you have been a blacksmith for 35 years of your life, you can come up to Congress and you can participate. My occupation is carpenter. I love working with my hands and that’s how I make my living.”
Another big issue Monroe is focused on is Yucca Mountain.
“As far as Nye County is concerned, I think the Yucca Mountain project will be opened back up,” he said. “It’s not whether I support Yucca Mountain or not. Yucca Mountain is going to be funded. Harry Reid is retiring and all the other people who are holding it back are going away. I will report to the constituents and let them know when it’s going to open up.”
Monroe also said that what sets him apart from the other candidates is his passion for getting things done for constituents in his district.
“I have a true passion and I want to go up there and get something done,” he said. “That’s it, I actually want to spearhead legislation. Cresent Hardy is up there but I don’t know what he’s passionate about. Yucca Mountain is greatly going to enhance the community of Pahrump because those workers are most likely going to be living in the Pahrump area.”
On the issue of Hispanic immigration, Monroe said his views are in direct contrast with that of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
“I am totally opposite to where Donald Trump is at regarding Hispanics,” he said. “I don’t know how that would bode well with the rest of the Republican Party, but I’m going to put it out there in the next couple of weeks and let people know exactly where I stand. I plan to visit the Pahrump community within the end of this month. This campaign of mine is kicking into high gear right now. We are in the stretch.”
Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com