I moved to Northern Nevada in 1986 after I took a vacation to an area I knew little about. The Reno area combined with easy access to Lake Tahoe and San Francisco was immediately intriguing. After a little research about the weather I learned that all four seasons were mild but defined by definitive changes in the weather. I felt that it was a little secret I had discovered and fell in love with.

My previous homes were in Los Angeles, the city in which I grew from a small child into adulthood, and then North County San Diego for 10 years when it was the fastest growing area in America.

Moving from Los Angeles to San Diego was a bit of culture shock. L.A. is very liberal, and San Diego is very conservative. But moving to Reno/Sparks was like living in a different country. Right wing extremists dominated the culture in 1986. I quickly learned than just a couple of decades prior to my moving to the area it was called the Mississippi of the west. Although it has changed with an influx of residents from states west of Reno, it remains a Republican stronghold. This is not true about the southern part of our state. The total population of Reno/Sparks is approximately 350,000. Carson City, the state capital, has a population of just under 55,000. Las Vegas has approximately 600,000 residents and Henderson another 300,000+ citizens.

In 2016 Nevada became a ‘blue state.’ Our electoral votes went to Hillary. We elected the first female Democratic and Hispanic Senator in Catherine Cortez-Masto. Three issues opposed by Republican politicians passed; recreational marijuana, holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for drug prices, and comprehensive background checks for all gun purchases including gun shows and online sales.

In November Nevada will be deciding the future of three of Trump’s biggest allies. Up for election as our governor is Attorney General Adam Laxalt. His father, Paul, was a well-respected Republican governor, and likely the reason why he won his present position.

Adam Laxalt refused to enact the measures supported by Nevada’s voters. He has yet to force background checks for all gun purchases and has failed to implement transparency from the drug companies. His predecessor as Nevada’s governor, Brian Sandoval, was a moderate Republican who was extremely popular, and Laxalt is hoping that Republicans will also support him; I hope not; he is bad for Nevada’s people and opposed many of Governor Sandoval’s positions on issues supported by our state’s people.

Dean Heller is one of only eight Republicans of the 33 Senators seeking reelection in November. He has voted in support of Trump and in opposition to the needs of our state’s people consistently. He has voted to repeal and not replace Obamacare multiple times. Heller has also voted to defund Planned Parenthood at least six times. He is a Trump puppet and a traitor to my state’s low-income residents.

Mark Amodei is a Representative who has failed to accomplish anything for our state’s people in four terms. He has blindly supported issues favored by his party and Trump although they may have harmed the people of my state. He has not introduced a single piece of legislation which would positively affect the people of my state.

I am hoping for a “blue wave” in November, and I hope it begins with my beautiful and beloved state.

Please ask others to follow my “blog of truth;” thank you.

Op-ed by James Turnage

Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore

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