By Kathryn Reed

Douglas County voters clearly want Ron Pierini to be sheriff.

Assuming he carries the momentum he had Tuesday into November, he will continue on as sheriff.

Ron Pierini

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting June 10, Pierini dominated his opponents by tallying 69.36 percent of the votes with 6,335 votes. David Brady had 20.67 percent, 1,888; and Michael Gyll 9.97 percent, 911.

The top two – Pierini and Brady – meet again in November.

“It’s been quite an experience for me because I never had to go out and do the things I am today. I look forward to November,” Pierini told Lake Tahoe News.

Pierini was appointed to be sheriff by county commissioners and then elected in 1997. Every four years since then he had not had a challenger until this year.

He spent time going door-to-door, at debates and talking to residents at other locations.

“It solidified the fact we are doing a good job,” Pierini said of the feedback he received.

He has led a department that has seen its budget cut by $2 million and the loss of 10 positions. Despite the cutbacks, the department’s arrest to prosecution rate is 38 percent. Nationwide the average is 22 percent.

Pierini praised his deputies for the work they do and their ethics, underlining the fact the department has not had to deal with any scandals.

In the other contested race in Douglas County, incumbent Jim Wheeler will retain his seat in the state Assembly. The District 39 representative had 4,435 votes for 62.32 percent, while challenger Robin Reedy has 2,681 votes or 37.68 percent. This seat extends to Lake Tahoe.

Nevada was expecting a low voter turnout that could set a record. The state allows early and mail-in ballots. Those could account for two-thirds of the votes cast. They represented 18.74 percent of the votes in Douglas County.