HORACE LANGFORD, JR. / PVT James Smack, candidate for Nevada's 2nd Congressional District. Advertisement

"Congress needs a good Smack," touts a campaign button being given away at Comstock Park during James Smack's meet and greet Saturday afternoon.

Smack is hoping to give the national legislative body a metaphorical whack by winning the race in Nevada District 2 over Congressman Dean Heller, R-Nev.

The candidate has been a resident of Nevada for seven years, spending the majority of that time in Fallon and Reno.

A self-defined constitutionalist, he promises to ensure the Constitution is followed.

"That is the one and only litmus test for what I vote on," Smack said.

He's also very clear about what he would not vote for if elected, including any kind of tax increase.

"A lot of our rights are being eroded," Smack said, citing the Patriot Act and federal wire-tapping extensions as examples.

Smack would also work to withdraw troops from Iraq "safely and smartly" because, he feels, troops were dispatched there unconstitutionally.

"It's not a constitutional act or we would've formally declared war," he said.

As far as Yucca Mountain, the proposed nuclear waste repository site, is concerned, Smack said it was "a federal land grab" being forced on Nevadans.

However, he qualified that remark by stating he would work to ensure state residents benefitted from it financially should the repository project move forward.

The economy also concerns the congressional candidate, who promises if elected he will work hard to find economic solutions that are beneficial to all Nevadans and "real solutions to bring gas prices under control."

Smack has never held office before but he's certain he can serve the people of Silver State well.