Candidate Feature -- Justin Heath

Dr. Justin Heath, a Fallon native and local physician, has joined the race for Churchill County Commissioner, district 1 and believes his experience and love for the area is just what many residents are looking for in a community leader.

Born and raised in the Lahontan Valley, Heath graduated from CCHS in 1993 and served in the Marine Corps for five years. Upon returning to his hometown, he met his wife Theresa and began his post-secondary studies at WNC. After completing his studies there, he enrolled at UNR and served with the Army ROTC before taking a commission with the Navy. Heath completed his studies in osteopathic medicine at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo, California, and completed his residency at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. His last four years in the Navy were spent in Lemoore, CA. Upon returning to Fallon in 2014, Heath practiced medicine for Banner Churchill Community Hospital, the VA, and ran his family practice through 2019. He has since he returned to Banner where is heavily involved in the Executive Medical Committee.

With three children, ages 9, 13, and 17, Heath feels his age could be advantageous when considering his bid for commissioner. "I think it would be good to have someone younger, from here, and connected to the needs of the community," Heath stated. "I hear what my friends, family, and people in the area are saying and I think I can help.” According to Heath, he has always had an interest in public service. He has taken on many leadership roles in the military and the medical field, but this is his first venture into local politics. And, he has a great deal on his mind regarding Churchill County and ensuring it is a healthy, thriving community.

One of his greatest concerns is housing. “It is very difficult to find any place in the area to rent under $1000,” explains Heath. “Most families, especially young families, cannot afford that.” Further, Health feels that a great deal of the high pricing of rentals is the result of landlords that own several properties and are taking advantage of the housing shortage. “When you add the fact that a lot of residents are making minimum wage, it doesn’t work. Where are we going to put the young families?” Heath asks. “The last apartments built in the area were those on Taylor and Keddie, which was some time ago.”

Heath is a supporter of CHIP, the proposed Churchill Hazen Industrial Park, saying it will be a benefit to the economy. Heath said, “We need to make sure to plan accordingly with county services like fire and public safety.” According to Heath, Fallon is in something of a Catch-22. The area needs to grow economically, to bring business and industry to the area, but where are we going to put the people. “We can’t even get doctors,” Heath stated, “They are looking at joining Banner, but pass because there is no place for their families to live. A growing community needs two key things; a hospital, which we have, and housing –which we do not have. And, unless we improve the housing situation, we can’t improve the job situation.”

As a doctor, Health also has many concerns about COVID-19 and the ways we need to respond as a community. “We have to open up,” he says. “But we have to be smart. The best approach to is open the community up, prepare for the spike, and learn how to live with the virus.” There are many options for businesses, Health explains. “The goal of sheltering was to flatten the curve – we demolished it.”

Another key interest for the candidate is making sure the area’s water is protected as well as the rising rate of homelessness, the drug and addiction problem, abuse, and other issues that face the community need to be dealt with. Heath expressed concern for homeless encampments. “They need to be closed down,” Heath explained, “They create a high risk for disease.” Continued community support of service providers like New Frontier Treatment Center and the Churchill Coalition is critical. As the former medical director of New Frontier Treatment Center, Heath has a compressive understanding of community needs regarding behavioral health.

The Navy range expansion is also on Heath’s radar. If elected, he will do all he can to protect public land currently being used for recreation as well as any tribal lands. There are many issues facing Churchill County and Heath believes he has a lot to offer and is willing to take on the challenge.

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