Pahrump will have plenty of choices for their new justice of the peace come the primaries.

The two-week special filing period closed Friday, Dec. 18 with a final tally of 13 judicial hopefuls.

While some of the candidates have already been through a judicial race, others are throwing their hat into the ring for the first time.

Warren Witthoeft moved to Pahrump in 1999 after spending 23 years in Chicago law enforcement in a number of capacities ranging from policing and patrol to working in the auto theft division and finishing off his career as a gang crime specialist.

Witthoeft has an associate's degree in criminal justice and graduated and studied major traffic accident investigation at Northwestern University.

He is a Vietnam veteran and recently earned an award for 50 years of service with the Boy Scouts of America.

"I believe I can bring some of my knowledge, fairness, and integrity to the job," Witthoeft said. "I'm running because I believe that knowledge of the law and common sense are important."

Luana Miller, another J.P. choice, has 16 years in law enforcement, ten of which have been spent on the civilian and administrative side for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

She has worked in various divisions including the DUI traffic section, conducting employment background checks for the department, and is currently working in quality assurance.

Miller said it was her six years working in a prosecuting attorney's office that really qualifies her as a justice of the peace.

"I basically trained lawyers in court procedure," Miller said. "I wanted Pahrump to have multiple qualified candidates."

David Abbott came to Pahrump in 1999 and quickly put his experience as an arbitrator to use by opening up an alternate dispute resolutions business.

Although he is not an attorney, Abbott said his experience working as a consultant for construction firms and with arbitration meant he's worked extensively in the legal realm.

"I consider myself a good listener and a very strong advocate of common sense," Abbott said.

Abbott added that he had spent some time observing justice court proceedings both in Pahrump and Las Vegas.

For Abbott, being a justice of the peace is the perfect way to spend his retirement.

"I look forward to supporting the community and I think it's the first step," Abbott said.

Frank Furcini has 38 years of experience in law enforcement, including victim advocacy and investigations.

Furcini's experience is based in both Hawaii and Clark County, the latter of which he spent six year's as a victim and witness advocate for the Clark County District Attorney's office.

He has also worked as an investigator for the Clark County Public Administrator's Office.

Furcini said he's always wanted to serve the community as a justice of the peace and was excited to learn that in Pahrump there was no requirement to be a lawyer to run for office.

He moved to Pahrump from Henderson in 2004 but regularly visited Pahrump since the 1980s.

"I feel I have extensive experience in courtroom law, extensive experience in law enforcement, and extensive experience in life," Furcini said. "When I say I'm coming from a law enforcement background, I mean I'm coming from a metropolitan law enforcement background," Furcini said.

Leonardo Blundo made Pahrump his home nine months ago and threw his hat in the ring because "I think some new blood, some different people here, can help make some good changes."

Blundo said he has been in the restaurant business since he was nine, experience that helped him to become a good judge of character because in order to be successful, he had to be able to gauge whether or not people were going to pay or dine and dash.

In addition, Blundo said he's done a ride along with the sheriff's office and knows first hand what it's like to get a speeding ticket.

"I've been on both sides of the bench," Blundo said. "It's not just about judging, and I understand that. It's also about rehabilitating people."

Other candidates residents will have to choose from (previously covered in this paper) include:

Mike Foley, currently one of two pro tempore justices of the peace, is putting his name on the ballot in hopes of having the job permanently. Foley has spent five days on the bench here thus far in place of Justice of the Peace Tina Brisebill.

Former Nye County Deputy Sheriff Kent Jasperson, who ran for the same office in 2006, is running again on the same platform as last time: "fair and equal justice for all."

Linda DeMeo, member of many community organizations including Kiwanis and the VFW Chamber of Commerce, as well as wife of current Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo, threw her hat in the ring as well. Linda DeMeo said she decided to run at the request of friends and residents who asked her to run for the office.

Dorothy Oriando, another candidate, is the sole proprietor of All The Time/Anytime Mobile Notary Public and Paralegal Services.

She has a bachelor's degree in justice administration from the University of Hawaii and is working on a master's degree in legal studies.

Barry Waggoner was the first to file for the position, hopes to become Pahrump's newest JP and if elected plans to uphold not only the federal Constitution but the Nevada constitution as well.

Michael Neu has spent the past 32 years as an attorney and said his variety of legal experience, from criminal defense and arbitration to real estate and injury, means he'll be ready for the job the day he's sworn in if elected.

Dennis Sugg, a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper for the past 17 years, holds a degree in criminal justice and believes his experience in law enforcement has prepared him to be Pahrump's newest Justice of the Peace.

Louis DeCanio, former military police officer, is hoping to be elected this time around and plans to use his experience of running bars in Chicago and making split-second decisions to avoid disputes to use as a Justice of the Peace.