Stephanie Lopez, who attended her first Pahrump Town Board meeting on June 23 to support Town Manager Bill Kohbarger, is ending her short-lived foray into politics after the next board meeting.

She's going back to her life out of the spotlight as a T-ball mom and school volunteer, but until the July 14 board meeting, she's continuing to collect signatures of people who want Kohbarger to keep his job. The agenda item to discuss and possibly decide whether to remove him from office without cause was tabled indefinitely at the last meeting.

Lopez plans to spend Sunday morning, July 5, collecting signatures at popular shopping locations. "I have 300 additional signatures for Bill I collected, going out with my clipboard last weekend," said Lopez. "I'm also gathering people's thoughts on changes they think are needed in Pahrump.

"I spoke to one grandmother taking care of her daughter's baby," said Lopez. "Her daughter got mixed up with the wrong crowd and got involved with drugs." The grandmother told Lopez there needs to be more for young people to do in Pahrump.

Meeting and listening to people has been a positive experience for Lopez, who said people are volunteering ideas for positive changes for the town, like more crossing lights for pedestrians.

She is also collecting ideas from residents and taking comments about Kohbarger by e-mail at positive4pahrump@yahoo.com.

"Obviously, people know where I stand about Bill. I think he is a positive influence for the town. I want to see positive change in our community."

Lopez said she wants people to be able to express opinions in public meetings without fear of reprisal and is willing to listen to negative comments as long as they are constructive.

"I've received some hateful phone calls since I spoke up at the meeting and my picture was in the paper. People leave anonymous messages saying things like, 'watch your back'.

"I have two small kids. I don't need stuff like that. I don't want this to become a hate thing. I have the right to my opinion. I'm going to the next town board meeting to turn in my signatures and all the e-mail comments I receive -- whether good or bad, as long as they aren't hateful, but that's the last one I'll attend."