HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., meets the public at the Saddle West Hotel and Casino Tuesday morning. Advertisement

U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said it was exciting to see the growth in Pahrump during a meet and greet with local supporters at the Saddle West Hotel and Casino Tuesday morning.

The congressman didn't mention the recent scandal concerning claims he pinned an inebriated woman against the wall of a Las Vegas parking garage Oct. 13. Instead, his remarks seemed to dwell on his own family values.

But Gibbons remarked, "there's been some challenging times in the past week or two. They're part of the rite of passage of being elected to office.

"Governor's races are not given away. We have to work very hard for them."

The congressman gave up a safe seat in Congress to seek the governorship following the retirement of Kenny Guinn, whose term expires in January. During a Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce luncheon the day before the Aug. 15 primary, Gibbons said nobody wants to be a lock on a position. The experience of serving in Congress and as a former state assemblyman helps him work on bipartisan cooperation, the congressman said.

Gibbons made frequent references to his mother in his brief remarks at the Saddle West Tuesday morning. Gibbons said his mother raised five children and ran for mayor of Sparks, where she instilled in him a sense of civics.

Gibbons also spoke about his father, who had a seventh-grade education but was the smartest man he knew, telling about the American dream of getting a good education, a good job and a good home.

Gibbons introduced his wife, three-term assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, who ran unsuccessfully this year to succeed her husband as representative of congressional District 2.

"Having a child get a first class education is part of the American dream," Gibbons said. "We want to make sure every child can learn."

Gibbons spoke about the growth in Pahrump.

"It's been exciting to see the growth. Ten years ago, 10,000 people, today 30,000. You're starting to get to be an attraction for people looking for a great place to live."

The population of Pahrump grew from 7,000 people in the 1990 census to 24,631 in the 2000 census. It's projected at over 36,000 today.

Speaking of his opponent, Democratic State Senate Minority Floor Leader Dina Titus, Gibbons said, "I don't think there's anything as stark a contrast as between the both of us."

Gibbons expanded on his service in the U.S. Air Force in two wars, the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War. He said he's represented Nevada north and south, east and west. "We're all one big community."

"We want to make sure we have a government that's small and effective," Gibbons said. "Taxes are what suppresses the American entrepreneurial spirit. It suppresses the American dream."

Gibbons said taxes should be kept low so Nevada can be "the last frontier" among the 50 states for business opportunity, "a beacon on a hill."

Gibbons said he'll do a lot for Nye County in building that entrepreneurial spirit. He said Nye County has a wonderful opportunity to serve neighboring population centers in Las Vegas and California with renewable energy projects like solar and wind power.

During a brief interview, the congressman said he was unaware of the news about the National Nuclear Security Administration plans for the closure of the Tonopah Test Range, which was published in the Las Vegas press Oct. 20. He said Congress is trying to reduce the budget but they're trying to cut costs in Washington, D.C., not in Nevada.

After Gibbons' visit to Pahrump, Melissa Subbotin, a Gibbons aide, said late Tuesday afternoon the congressman contacted his Washington staff to be sure all channels have been properly researched before the range closure moves forward. She said congressman Gibbons is trying to reduce the impact of the closure on Nevadans, if it does occur.