The campaign season continues into full swing in Nye County.
Last Saturday, Fifth Judicial District Judge candidate Lillian “Lil” Donohue entertained a crowd of about 40 people at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10054, while across town, incumbent Nye County Clerk Sam Merlino had over 100 guests attend her fundraiser at Draft Picks bar.
Donohue’s opponent in the Nov. 4 election, incumbent Department 2 Fifth Judicial District Judge Robert Lane, will have his fundraiser at Draft Picks this coming Saturday night.
“I want everybody to have an equal shake. I want people to know when they come in my courtroom they will be treated fairly and they are going to be heard and if they don’t have an attorney I’m not going to be putting up road blocks up to this, I’m going to try to make it as streamlined as possible in the procedure. I’m just a real big believer in this. I know as judges we have to act as a buffer between the government and the citizens,” Donohue said.
She professed to be strong on the Second Amendment and constitutional rights which must be enforced by judges.
Merlino merely thanked the guests at her fundraiser. Nevada State Treasurer candidate Dan Schwartz showed up to show his support. Merlino, a Republican from Tonopah, is running against her former chief deputy clerk Sheila Winn, a Democrat from Pahrump.
Lane won election to the special election for a second judicial department in fifth district court back in 2000. He has won re-election ever since.
Donohue said she is a strong supporter of animals, children and seniors, which are reasons she ran for the office. Donohue said she is an advocate of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program and was among the first group of women to serve on the Nevada Bar.
Donohue criticized Lane’s decision to limit the number of horses people can have in Calvada Estates subdivision.
“My husband and I came out here because we have horses,” Donohue said. “We had nine at one time, now we’re down to four,” she said.