The filing period to run for the new Department II Justice of the Peace position began Monday, and first to put his name on the ballot was Barry Waggoner.

"I wasn't really thinking about it until two or three months ago," Waggoner said. "I've never had any idea of going into politics."

At the bidding of encouraging friends and family, Waggoner has thrown his hat into the ring and will be on November's ballot in hopes of becoming Pahrump's second justice of the peace.

"I feel I can do the job, and I believe I can do it well," Waggoner said.

Waggoner, who came to Pahrump in 1973 with his parents, is a self-proclaimed "staunch conservative."

"There are too many people who, for lack of a better term, seem to get away with things," Waggoner explained.

As justice of the peace, Waggoner said he hopes to uphold the constitution, not just of the country but the Nevada constitution as well.

Waggoner has spent most of his career life in construction, from being a heavy equipment operator and welder to a truck driver.

Although he's never had any legal training, he said he is willing to undergo any training involved with the job.

"I hope to be a fair and impartial judge," Waggoner said.

As of this writing, Waggoner was the only person who had filed to run in the election, but said so far he's enjoying a fair amount of support. "Most people that I've talked to this week have been supportive and think it's a good idea," Waggoner said.

But it's early yet, and the prospective J.P.'s have until Friday, Jan. 18, to put themselves on the ballot.

The second justice of the peace position was approved by the Nye County commissioners in an effort to relieve Pahrump's increasing case loads which, until now, have been handled by Justice of the Peace Tina Brisebill.

In 2006, Pahrump's Justice Court saw 1,318 criminal cases filed, 1,415 civil cases, and 2,733 non-traffic cases.