Reid
~ by Robert Perea The Fernley Reporter
Whether they were political allies or adversaries, officials across the state and the country reacted to the news of the death of former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid Tuesday with their remembrances and support for his family.
The former Senate Majority Leader who served more than 30 years in Congress died at home Tuesday after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 82.
Reid was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982, serving two terms before being elected to the Senate in 1986.
“Nevada has lost an historic figure with the passing of Harry Reid,” said former U.S. Senator Dean Heller. “While we rarely agreed politically, we shared a common faith and he'll be deeply missed. Lynne and I send our deepest condolences to Landra and the entire Reid family.”
Former governor and current University of Nevada, Reno President Brian Sandoval called Reid one of the towering figures in the history of Nevada.
“The Senator’s career in public service belongs on the state’s Mount Rushmore as an example of a legendary leader who always put the needs, dreams and future of the people of Nevada first,” Sandoval said. “The University of Nevada, Reno will always be incredibly grateful for the support Senator Reid showed higher education throughout his career in the House of Representatives and then the United States Senate.”
“The ultimate Nevada advocate again gets to talk boxing with Mike O’Callaghan,” U.S. Representative Mark Amodei said. “Rest In Peace, Mr. Leader.”
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Chairwoman Janet Davis said the Tribe is thankful that Reid provided a voice for the indigenous tribes of Nevada. “We are forever grateful for his commitment and foresight in preserving our tribal waters with the passage of the historic Truckee River Operating agreement. This monumental bill provides spawning flows for our endangered cui-ui fish and the threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout.”
TROA similarly stands tall amongst Reid’s work that directly affected Churchill County, along with the Operating Criteria and Procedures for the Newlands Reclamation Project. These two documents lay down processes for the US Bureau of Reclamation and the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District to manage the Newlands Project, securing water for our farmers and for the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. The Senator’s efforts also helped to secure passage of the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Indian Tribes Water Rights Settlement Act (Public Law 101-618).
“Politically Senator Reid and I did not always agree on issues of natural resources,” said Ernie Schank, retired President of TCID. “ He was a master of the workings of politics. My association with Senator Reid span nearly 50 years and to his credit shortly before he and I retired from our respective public service, Rusty Jardine and I paid a visit seeking his blessing for a settlement of issues accumulated over some 30 years. To our delight, he gave his blessing including aid from the Desert Terminal Lakes Funds which were necessary for the settlement to be finalized. That was my last visit with the Senator. After all the years of struggle this valley had with his political philosophy we both walked away with a victory. It is always difficult to lose a loved one, especially at this time of the year, so our family sends condolences to Senator Reid’s family. May Senator Reid Rest In Peace.”
Comment
Comments