Robert "Butch" Dole Darryl Lackey GRAPHIC BY JESSICA BEAUDOIN / PVT A map shows the boundaries of Nye County District 3 on the west side of Pahrump. Advertisement

Two more candidates filed to run for Nye County Commissioner of District 3 during the May 5-16 filing period, making it a four-way race.

Three are running as Republicans -- first term incumbent Gary Hollis, Robert "Butch" Dole and Darryl Lackey -- who will square off in the Aug. 12 Republican primary. The top candidate will face Harley Kulkin, a Democrat, in the general election Nov. 4.

Hollis was profiled in the Jan. 2, 2008 edition of the PVT, Kulkin was profiled in the May 14 edition.

* Dole ran for governor of California in the recall election of Gov. Gray Davis in 2003. He captured 273 votes, finishing in 132nd place. Dole said he appeared on the "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno with other gubernatorial candidates, at which time Leno quipped if Bob Dole couldn't win the presidential race, Butch Dole wouldn't win the governor's race.

Dole grew up in Wisconsin, served in the U.S. Marine Corps, then worked as a field service technician for a semiconductor company in Massachusetts.

Eventually he moved to California where he ran a small package delivery service called Multiple Technologies Transport in San Jose that delivered 60,000 to 80,000 silicon wafers per month to local semiconductor companies.

Dole moved to Pahrump four years ago, partly to escape the workman's compensation laws in California. "It was the regulations, and now I see all that starting to creep into Nevada, and that bothers me too," he said.

Dole is a slot technician for Herbst Gaming. He said Pahrump needs to do something to attract tourists. The county has done a good job on zoning but could do more beautification. But Dole said he doesn't want Pahrump to grow up to be like Las Vegas.

"I really don't see anything changing or happening, Pahrump's a town of 40,000 people or so," Dole said. When asked why he entered the race, he recalled growing up in Menomonie, Wis., a town of 10,000 people, where there were amenities like sidewalks, curbs and gutters years ago.

"Now with 40,000 people I think we need a little bit more infrastructure, and if that penitentiary actually does take up and get started, I understand somebody's predicting another 200 cars on [Highway] 160. I think we're going to need a couple more stop lights," he said.

The facility is actually planned as a temporary detention center, not a penitentiary.

While Dole admitted he doesn't know much about the inner workings of the county commission, and it may take a little while to get up to speed, Dole said he's a quick learner.

When Dole was asked about some of the issues facing the county, like desert tortoise mitigation and flood control, he revealed more of his distain for government regulations.

"It's too bad government has gotten to be so heavily involved in all the red tape," Dole said. "Now you have got to have a commission for this, a commission for that, a study for this, a study for that, and then it takes years to get something done."

His incumbent opponent, Hollis, may have more experience working for the county, but Dole said, "Maybe it's time for a change and get someone who hasn't had the experience, or baggage, that goes along with having the years of experience, so maybe things move a little faster."

* Lackey came in for the interview wearing a Ron Paul for president button and a Colt Mustang .380-caliber pistol tucked in his belt.

"I do open carry, I think that's a right we give up too easy," he said. "As transients move through, potential criminals, I want them to see we're a different breed here in Pahrump."

Lackey's card touts a business called Wired 4 Sound LLC. Lackey said he works as an RV technician for RV Superstore, which will open soon on South Dandelion Street. He formerly did electrical work for Citizens for Affordable Homes; for Summit Electrical, wiring the Pahrump Nugget bowling alley; and worked on the side on several homes.

Lackey is a state Republican Party delegate. He has five placer mining claims in Johnnie and said he now owns his own home for the first time.

He has been living in Pahrump for four years. He is a native of Glens Falls, N.Y. He also lived in Simi Valley, Calif., and Los Angeles.

When asked why he decided to run for commissioner, Lackey said, "Basically I'm tired of secrecy in government at all levels." He called himself "probably the most honest person you know."

Lackey said he wants to get all the information to the people. "The people need to know all the facts, not just some of the facts. Until you know all the facts, you cannot make proper decisions," he said.

Lackey said he was unpleasantly surprised to hear about a federal detention center going in on East Mesquite Avenue. Lackey feels it would be better placed outside of town.

"Do they want to bring tourism to town or do they want to publicize how many people we got locked up?" he asked.

Lackey wants to serve on the Pahrump town incorporation committee but said he still may be able to serve as an alternate member. Instead of incorporating Pahrump, he suggested moving the county seat from Tonopah to Pahrump.

"People tell me Tonopah only exists because the county seat is there. It's not my intention to harm other people's lives or to create a ghost town, but it seems like there's enough people traveling through. There's always changes that may be made, you have to tighten your belt," Lackey said.

Lackey complained Nye County sheriff's patrol cars were driving over the pass from Las Vegas. "I'm pretty sure we have deputies living over there, and if they can take their squad cars home with them, that uses up about a tenth of their miles," he said.

Lackey said Nye County wastes money it gets from the federal government in order to get more federal money in the next budget year.

"Do we want to be competing for the federal dollars with all the strings that come attached to them, or do we want to live with integrity and carry our own weight and be a town we can be proud of?" he asked.

Lackey emphasized on a couple of occasions he wants the truth, not lies.

"I do not want to cut short any necessities, any necessary services, but I don't like waste, and another thing I don't like, is I don't like the arrogance," he said. "There's no reason for the arrogance if you're there to be a servant of the people."