Leanna Lehman
Churchill County Republicans marked Valentine’s Day with the party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner, a fundraising evening that combined dinner, auctions, and a string of short speeches from elected officials and candidates ahead of the coming primary season.
Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford, U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, and several state officials attended. Nevada Republican Party Chair Michael McDonald emceed the program and credited recent party wins to unity. He warned the audience not to assume those gains would last without continued work and pointed to Amodei’s pending retirement as a major change for the state’s congressional delegation.
Amodei, drawing laughs early, told the crowd his retirement should not be treated as “a funeral,” and said he intends to stay active in campaigns. He also urged attendees to focus on facts and local realities, cautioning them not to let “somebody on a TV station 2,500 miles away” define their communities.
Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony spoke about his office’s work in tourism, outdoor recreation, transportation, and economic development, with a focus on rural areas. He criticized Democrat priorities in the Nevada Legislature and pointed to recent policy efforts related to girls' sports after a bill failed.
State Sen. Robin Titus emphasized voter turnout in the next election and said Republicans see a path to a Senate majority by picking up seats in several Clark County districts. She credited Lombardo’s vetoes last session and said the party needs strong participation even in non-presidential years.
Assemblyman Greg Koenig described himself as a rural advocate in Carson City and said much of his work centers on smaller counties. Tedford followed with a short welcome, joking about how some out-of-state contacts still need a map to find Fallon.
Churchill County District Attorney Art Mallory, who is seeking re-election, praised the county’s leadership and urged residents to stay involved locally.
Several candidates took the opportunity to address the crowd.
Reno attorney Adriana Guzman Freilich, running for attorney general, said she is pro-law enforcement and wants tougher penalties for crimes against officers. She noted her Northern Nevada roots and said Gov. Lombardo has endorsed her campaign.
Douglas County Commissioner Danny Tarkanian, also running for attorney general, focused on election enforcement, cooperation with ICE, and support for law enforcement.
Jeff Carter, a candidate for state treasurer, pointed to his finance background and said he wants to modernize the state treasury.
Two candidates for secretary of state also spoke. Former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle urged support for voter ID and described her years living in rural Nevada. Rhonda Kennedy, a constitutional attorney who described herself as a “refugee from California,” spoke about her legal work during the COVID era and framed her campaign around election enforcement.
Congressional candidate Dave Flippo told the crowd his campaign for the 4th Congressional District had gained endorsements and momentum, including Churchill County. He said the district extends into Churchill, though most of the county’s voters are in the 2nd District, with only a small portion along the southern county line in the 4th.
State Controller Andy Matthews highlighted his office’s transparency efforts, including the state checkbook website, and said he plans to keep pushing for an inspector-general-style office to improve accountability. He also recognized the efforts of former state Sen. James Settelmeyer and his chief deputy, James Smack, a former Churchill County Republican Party chair.
Former congressional candidate David Gibbs promoted Question 7, the voter ID constitutional amendment, telling attendees it must pass again to be added to the Nevada Constitution. Beach later said voter ID and a girls’ sports ballot question were the top local priorities discussed during the evening.
The event, largely organized by CCR Chair Leslie Beach and several volunteers, proved a success, both in rallying party members and in raising money for the conservative cause. The live auction brought in about $25,000. Items included several firearms, vacation packages, and a framed photo with a custom commemorative coin honoring the Silver Belle, the 2025 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. The tree, the first from Nevada, was harvested from the Carson Ranger District near Mount Rose and donated by Mark Amodei. The commemorative set sold for $8,000.
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