Nye County sheriff’s candidate Sharon Wehrly explained a campaign gaffe made during a debate during a follow-up appearance at the Artesia Community Center last Wednesday.
During a Oct. 14 debate with Assistant Sheriff Rick Marshall at the Bob Ruud Community Center, both sheriff’s candidates were asked how they would handle an incident like what happened in Clark County, when federal agents seized cattle belonging to Cliven Bundy. Wehrly said “the federal folks will be stopped in their tracks.”
Marshall said Wehrly told people at a breakfast earlier in the campaign there was nothing she could do, Wehrly disputed that statement. Marshall said District Attorney Brian Kunzi was at that breakfast meeting.
“What I said was I wasn’t really worried about the federal government coming in because the federal government has to abide by our laws. What I’m really worried about is the United Nations coming in because all they have is a treaty to go by which actually trumps our Constitution if we agree to that,” Wehrly said, to a chorus of boos from the audience at the Bob Ruud Community Center.
She continued: “That’s very, very true and if you’re willing to look it up, I’d appreciate if you do that. I’m not worried about the federal government coming in because we can fight them off. We can fight them off legally and without a fight.”
Marshall immediately jumped on Wehrly’s comments.
“No treaty is going to trump the Constitution, the Constitution is the law of the land,” he said to applause at the Bob Ruud Community Center. “This country is founded on that principle. It is the sheriff’s responsibility to ensure your rights are protected and again to adhere to our constitutional principles, not just in our words but in our actions and again there will be no federal intervention, I don’t care if it’s BLM, I don’t care if it’s United Nations. They will not come in and trample your rights if I am sheriff.”
Wehrly added,”I did not say, nor will I ever say that I will welcome the United Nations here. I will fight the United Nations just as I will fight the federal government if they try to take over our lands, our property or ourselves.”
A Meet the Candidates night at the Artesia Community Center followed the next night. Resident Don Cox asked Wehrly about her stand on the United Nations coming to disarm residents. Wehrly apologized for using a term she shouldn’t have made regarding the Constitution and the UN treaties, focusing on the small arms treaty. Wehrly said she was referring to Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution.
Wehrly quoted, “This Constitution and the laws of the United States that will be made pursuant thereof and all treaties made of which shall be made, under the authority of the United States shall be the supreme law of the land and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.”
“That leaves the reader to believe that any treaty will become the supreme law of the land when it’s ratified and that in fact is true. No, I do not feel that our Second Amendment rights are threatened at this point but will remain vigilant and prepared to defend our way of life,” she said. “I am afraid of the treaties the United States makes, I always have been.”
Marshall didn’t mention Wehrly’s statement during the Artesia affair. But during Marshall’s meet and greet at the Mountain Falls Grill Room on Saturday night that attracted over 250 people, which was advertised through robocalls that morning, he closed a prepared speech saying, “nothing trumps the U.S. Constitution.”
During his meet and greet, Marshall said the departure of a long-serving public official affords an opportunity for the next wave of ideas. He applauded the work of Sheriff Tony DeMeo for the past 12 years.
“Sheriff DeMeo has laid a solid foundation,” Marshall said. “He has cultivated professionalism, core values and the pursuit of excellence. As your next sheriff my administration’s emphasis will continue to be on professionalism in public service.”
Marshall said the sheriff’s department hires people from within the community and pointed to a recent hire in the audience.
“Our people are invested in the quality of life we all enjoy here in Nye County,” he said.