Nine candidates have filed to run for the two Pahrump Town Advisory Board seats up for grabs this election cycle.

Each seat is for a four-year term on the board; they are currently held by Laurayne Murray and Don Rust. Murray has not filed for re-election.

For many of the candidates, incorporation is a main component of their platform and in some cases was the impetus for them to put their name on the ballot.

* Rust has thrown his hat in the ring for re-election, a decision he said he didn't make until almost the last day of the filing period.

"I want to continue the work that's been done and see incorporation succeed," Rust said.

A Pahrump resident for the past 13 years, Rust said if elected, he would work to ensure various town projects, such as the proposed Pahrump Arts and Recreation Complex and town-wide recycling program, succeed.

* Margery Kay Behrens has been a resident of Pahrump for the past 15 years and said she decided to run simply because "it's time."

"After eight years of oppression from the Republican party and sitting here watching the town board not do anything, it's time to be pro-active," she said.

Behrens, who said she is "loud, obnoxious and tend not to follow the crowd," said her main priority if elected would be to represent the people of Pahrump and their wishes.

* Mike Darby, who moved to Pahrump two years ago, said he's spent a lot of time attending town board meetings and watching the process of local government.

He decided to run for office to "bring things back in order and keep this a rural community."

Darby said he is opposed to incorporation and would work to foster economic development in the town by attracting manufacturing and industry jobs to the community.

"I came back here from Las Vegas so I could get back to country living," Darby said.

* Larky White has lived in Pahrump for the past seven years.

"I wanted to make sure there were good people representing the Town of Pahrump," White said when asked why he decided to run.

"I'm pro-growth, but I don't believe we ought to be incorporated," he added. "I plan to take the issue head on."

White said he believes the town should start "focusing on what we have" and "living within our means."

* Sean Brooks, a Pahrump resident since April 2003, decided to put his name on ballot because of his two young children.

Brooks said he's noticed a lot of college students leave Pahrump and don't come back.

"There's got to be a better way to keep the economy going and keep people here," Brooks said.

If elected, Brooks said he would focus on improving the town's relationship and communication with the county and bringing manufacturing jobs to the town.

* Vicky Parker, a native Nevadan who has spent the last six-and-a-half years in Pahrump, has thrown her hat in to the ring out of a love for the town.

Parker is active in several community organizations such as the Pahrump Valley Community Action Team and is a faithful attendee of town board and county commission meetings.

"I really love Pahrump, and it's changing," Parker said. "I'd like to see the town continue to move forward."

One thing on the list of town improvements Parker hopes to make if elected is putting walking paths in the parks.

"We have a lot of senior citizens here who don't really have a safe place to walk, and that's something we could do that wouldn't be too expensive," she said.

* Brian Nelson has been a resident of Pahrump since February 2004 and has been an active member of the community, previously serving as the director of Pahrump's Boys and Girls Club.

"I believe the town is going through changes that lead to more population and eventually will lead to incorporation," Nelson said.

His main priorities, if elected, include fostering economic development that "allows people to earn a living wage" and increasing social recreation for the town's families and youth.

* Lu Komorowski has lived in Pahrump for seven years and decided to put her name on the ballot out of a concern for the elderly residents here.

"I am running to help the people and specifically the elderly," Komorowski said. "This is a beautiful town and I want to continue the beautification of Pahrump."

In addition, Komorowski said she would like to foster the town's economic development and increase employment by bringing in industry.