HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Young staffers supporting Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson for president threw a barbecue at Petrack Park Saturday. Advertisement

Musician Maria Anderson got a visit from a supporter of presidential candidate New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and brought some potato salad.

After receiving a phone call, retired teacher Louise Parker showed up but hasn't committed herself.

"I haven't made my mind up yet who I'm going to vote for," Parker said. "I think he's a good man, I think he has some good ideas and I want to hear more."

Richardson didn't show up in person but his state communications director, Scott McNeil, said, "We are planning to get Gov. Richardson to Pahrump, hopefully within about a month."

Richardson's campaign staff, dressed in blue T-shirts, tossed hamburgers on a grill, serving up political banter along with the guacamole and chips.

Carlos Camacho drove up but wasn't interested in staying if the candidate himself wasn't present. A few others, like Anderson, had to find the barbecue, in the shade at the horseshoe pits, hidden behind the municipal swimming pool near Pahrump Fire Station No. 1.

"I decided this time I'm going to get involved," Parker said. "This time when I decide who I want to vote for, when I make up my mind, I'm going to go out and lick stamps because I'm not going to sit back, it's too important."

Pahrump town board member Don Rust was also undecided about the election. Rust said it's too early to endorse anyone 14 months before the election.

Scott Babb said he was formerly chairman of the Nye County Libertarian Party. He was impressed with Richardson's credentials as a former congressman, United Nations ambassador and secretary of energy.

"He negotiated with Saddam Hussein and got hostages released. Also, he's gone over and made some headway with North Korea already. He's the only Democratic presidential candidate that's endorsed by the NRA, and you know gun control is probably the number one issue here in Pahrump," Babb said.

"Bill Richardson was the first governor to proclaim a state of emergency due to illegal immigrants coming in the state. He did that to put pressure on the federal government to do something about it."

Most Libertarians feel a closer tie to Republicans than Democrats. Babb said that's changed this year.

"Most of my associates in the Libertarian Party really despise the Democratic party but in the last six years the Republicans have done so much damage to the Bill of Rights that now they're looking anywhere, even the Democratic party for help," Babb said.

Stanley Oloff, a former resident of Farmington, N.M., liked the royalties Richardson put on the oil and mineral companies, providing relief for the residents of the Land of Enchantment.

"If Richardson doesn't win, he'd better be our vice-president," Oloff said. "That idiot we got in there, we need somebody who would be a lot smarter than him."

McNeil sought to show what made his candidate stand out in the field of Democrats. As a former secretary of energy, he would try to emphasize alternative energy like wind and solar power which could create jobs in communities like Pahrump, McNeil said.

In a few words, McNeil said Richardson created 90,000 jobs in New Mexico, cut taxes, improved education, and provided health care to every child five years old and under.

"We're in every community in Nevada. We're going everywhere," McNeil said. "What he told us to do is really reach out to communities like Pahrump, rural areas where there's a different way of life. As a governor in a rural state, he gets it. He understands the issues Pahrump faces."

"Richardson," said Babb, "he's the smartest and he's got the best resume and yet he doesn't have the rock star persona, so he's not running at the head of the pack right now. It's a shame. People should be voting for the most smart individual there. We've had dumb for six years. It didn't work."

Richardson campaign workers hope to spread their message to others than campaign supporter Juan Valdez, of Las Vegas, who appeared to represent his core supporters.

"I'm a native new Mexican and I'm Hispanic and I like the fact that Richardson, he's a diplomat. Beyond his resume, he's probably the best candidate there is, hands down," Valdez said.

New schedule times at Johnson

J. G. Johnson Elementary School schedule has changed for the upcoming school year.

These schedule changes were made so that J. G. Johnson arrival and dismissal times would coincide with those of other elementary schools in Pahrump.

Students may arrive on campus at 8 a.m. Classes will begin at 8:25 a.m.

Students will be marked tardy if they arrive after 8:25 a.m. Class will be dismissed at 3 p.m.

Registration for new students begins on Monday, Aug. 13, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you have any questions, call the school office at 727-6619.