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Pahrump residency was an issue in the 5th District judge race and the Nye County Commission District 1 race, during a candidate debate sponsored by the Pahrump Republican Women's Club at the Pahrump Nugget Wednesday night.

Nye County District 3 Commissioner Gary Hollis indicated the county may revise the impact fees charged businesses in light of the tough economic times. School board candidates talked about relocating sixth-grade students from Rosemary Clarke Middle School to the elementary schools to ease overcrowding.

Fifth District Judge John Davis emphasized his experience, with 18 years as district judge.

"I've done over 200 jury trials, probably closer to 250. I've done 24 murder trials," Davis said.

His opponent, Assistant District Attorney Marla Zlotek, said she's been a Pahrump resident for 13 years, graduated in the top 3 percent of her law class and has accepted no monetary contributions this campaign.

Zlotek said she'd save the taxpayers money, since 80 percent of the cases in the 5th district originate in Pahrump.

"It makes sense if you have two judges in Pahrump and two courtrooms in Pahrump and the majority of the cases here," she said.

Davis disputed the cost savings. "Actually it's cost effective to have the judge in Tonopah because 40 percent of my work is down here," he said.

Zlotek wants to implement a system where cases could be accessed electronically.

Nye County Commission District 1 candidate Rob Mobley said he's running for office because 75 percent of the registered voters in his district live in Pahrump.

"Right now we have two commissioners from the north and three commissioners from the south. It's time Pahrump gets a fourth commissioner. I find it highly problematic we have 75 percent of the voters represented by someone who lives 200 miles away," Mobley said.

His opponent, Lorinda Wichman, from Round Mountain, said, "I have spent the majority of my time off down here in Pahrump Valley, talking to you knocking on doors and finding out what the issues are."

Wichman said Mobley, a history teacher, was teaching "something out of the dark ages" in attacking her residency.

"I don't know anyone older than 5 years old who doesn't know how to use a phone," she said. "I also have e-mail."

Wichman said Pahrump has infrastructure needs that should to be taken care of, like dust abatement and more law enforcement.

Nye County Commission District 3 candidate Harley Kulkin said he's disappointed where the county has ended up -- broke. He charged the county is misusing impact fee money.

"Why is our county failing? People who get elected to office are paid for their campaigns by special interests. I'm proud to say I collected only $300," Kulkin said. "When they hand you thousands of dollars, they want something special."

Kulkin charged Nye County was collecting two acre-feet of water rights for each parcel and nobody has any idea where they are.

His opponent, incumbent Gary Hollis, said the water rights go to the state to help retire the Pahrump water deficit.

"Economic bad times is not a time to go out and put in impact fees," Hollis said. "We're slowing economic development down because we're not business-friendly."

Hollis said he wants to dam up Wheeler Wash in a location where the canyon is only six feet wide, to prevent flooding.

Pahrump Justice of the Peace candidate Linda DeMeo said she has experience working for a shipping company, moving up from a secretary to dispatching vessels.

After working a tough job as an emergency medical technician in New York City, DeMeo said she carried that same sense of commitment and caring for people to Pahrump.

Her opponent, Kent Jasperson, said he's lived in Pahrump since 1980 and spent 25 years as a Nye County deputy sheriff.

"I am the only one who has experience in the justice system today," Jasperson said. "I will provide a firm and equal justice for all parties involved."

DeMeo said a night court could be successful and she could adjust the hours. Jasperson said he's not against the concept but questioned whether it would be a waste of taxpayer money to employ the bailiff, a deputy district attorney, public defender and others to work at night.

Pahrump Town Board candidate Sean Brooks said the proposed Ganix Bio-technologies shrimp farm and the Home Depot were examples of responsible businesses moving to Pahrump. He wants to see a focus on something other than gaming, like manufacturing.

"I would like to see the lines of communication between the town board and county commission improve. It's no secret who really runs the town down here," Brooks said.

Candidate Mike Darby encouraged residents to communicate with town board members. He visited the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission earlier in the evening and complained of the excessive landscaping and parking regulations.

Vicky Parker said, "I've spoken to over 3,000 people so I have a pretty good feel for what's going on in the community."

Parker said she's worked in graphic arts. She now sits on the PAVED economic development board, volunteers for Nathan Adelson Hospice, the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Pahrump Senior Center board and United Way.

Don Rust joked, "I'm the throw-the-bum-out incumbent on the town board running for re-election. I hope we can continue the work we started on economic development. I hope we can finish the work we started, after talking for so many years, on the fairgrounds project. I hope we can start an initiative on emergency preparedness."

Town and county officials need to meet jointly to discuss issues, Rust said.

School district Area VI candidate Courtland Ofelt mentioned his qualifilcations, with a doctorate in school administration from Montana State University and experience working as an administrator of schools in Alaska and Russia. He wants to keep school taxes as low as possible.

"I would move the sixth graders back to the elementary schools and move the ninth graders back to the high school," Ofelt said. He also wants to explore a four-day week.

His opponent, incumbent Area VI school board member Harold Tokerud said the school board cut $2.7 million from the budget this year, but declining sales taxes will spell more cuts.

"What I would like to be involved with is helping set the budget for the next couple years and setting the priorities," Tokerud said. "We've taken care of the elementary but we've got a problem with the high school and middle school. Actually we're talking about moving the sixth grade back into the elementrary school."

Nye County Area II school board member J.E. "Doc" McNeely, from Amargosa Valley, said the district saved $1.25 million in building Floyd Elementary School.

While Tokerud mentioned the $2.7 million in budget cuts this year, McNeely said he didn't mention the $1.6 million cut last year.