By Elizabeth Crum, Nevada News Bureau:
Following this Tuesday’s news that he will represent Nevada on the Colorado River Commission, former state Senator Mark Amodei today decided to throw his hat in the ring for Republican state party chairmanship.
Amodei said he called the party’s Vice Chair, Sherry Dilley, to inform her of his intentions this morning, and that he will soon be formally requesting consideration from the GOP’s credentialing committee.
Amodei said he decided to seek election as state party chair because he believes that in tough political and economic times, active engagement is always the best answer.
“No matter what party or political viewpoint, there is plenty for everyone to gripe about right now,” said Amodei. “I’ve always been the kind of guy who says, if you think there is a problem, going home and locking the door is not the answer.”
Amodei acknowledged that if elected to the chairmanship, there will be plenty of challenges in the time between now and the November 2 general election.
“It’s a dynamic election cycle, there is a lot on the line right now,” said Amodei. “There is the potential for great gains and great losses.”
Amodei said he does not anticipate any difficulty balancing his new appointment to the Colorado River Commission with the party chairmanship, should he be elected at party’s planned central committee meeting in Reno in mid-May.
“The Commission meets only eight to ten times a year,” said Amodei. “Some on the commission are also political office holders, so clearly it’s manageable.”
Amodei noted that the state party chairmanship is a non-paying position and joked that even if elected, “a guy still has to work for a living.”
“I’ll still be doing some consulting and practicing some law,” said Amodei.
Amodei served in the Nevada Assembly from 1996 to 1998 and in the Nevada State Senate from 1999 through his resignation from that office yesterday.
As part of his legislative service, Amodei has also served on the Public Land Committee, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Legislative Oversight Committee, and the Legislature’s Western Regional Water Commission Oversight Committee.
