G-CON Hosts Candidate Debates for Nye County Commission Districts 4 and 5

Nye County voters gathered in Pahrump over the weekend for a politically packed day to meet those running for elected Silver State offices and to participate in local commission debates ahead of Nevada's primary. The event, held March 21 at Coyote's Den on East Kellogg Road, was organized by Grassroots Conservatives of Nevada, better known as G-CON, and drew a large turnout of local voters and activists.

"I thought it was awesome," said Matt Sadler, chairman of G-CON and District 5 commissioner candidate, after the event ended. "We seemingly had exactly enough candidates to completely fill the parking lot and still have room for people to walk around and mingle."

The two-part event kicked off with a three-hour All Candidate Meet and Greet where a wide variety of hopefuls and incumbents interacted with the community. The meet-and-greet ran from noon to 3 p.m. and gave attendees a chance to meet candidates from a wide variety of local, statewide, and federal offices, including the Nye County sheriff race, local judicial races, the Nye County clerk race, and Nevada's 4th Congressional District race.

Notable attendees included incumbent Fifth Judicial District Court Department 2 Judge Robert Lane, incumbent Nye County Assessor Sheree Stringer, Nye County Public Administrator candidate Bill Hockstedler, and Nye County District Attorney candidate Michelle Nelson. Nelson told the Pahrump Valley Times: "It's important that we're out in the public. As I've said, this is a public office, and I should be accessible and accountable to the people. I'm showing them that I'm not just saying those as words. I'm actually doing what I'm saying."

At 3:30 p.m., the Nye County Commission District 5 debate took place and lasted approximately one hour; the District 4 debate followed immediately after, also expected to run an hour. Questions during both debates were submitted by the audience but required to be directed at all panelists on stage rather than singled out for a specific candidate. Sadler told the Pahrump Valley Times: "I think you get the most passionate questions from the people themselves."

Debate participants included Independent District 5 candidate Chris Lally, Independent American Party District 4 candidate Anthony Greco, Republican District 5 candidate Matt Sadler, and Republican District 4 candidate Debra Thomas. Lally, an independent running in District 5, told the Pahrump Valley Times during the meet-and-greet: "I'm proud to be here. We showed up, we knew it was a more conservative group, and I want to communicate to everybody that I'm here for liberals and conservatives alike."

The event also drew an unexpected controversy. Sadler noted after the event that an individual was serving legal papers to people at the meet-and-greet. "In no way, shape, or form was this promoted, condoned, or appreciated by organizers of this event," Sadler said. "G-CON and Coyote's Den had no foreknowledge of this type of activity. I do not believe this was appropriate, and I cannot let this activity appear sanctioned by G-CON or me personally."

Prior to the event, Sadler had urged Pahrump residents to show up, saying: "Don't miss your chance to become a part of the solution and a part of the political process so we can get the government that we deserve." He also gave special thanks to Sue Quale, general manager at Coyote's Den, for her hard work in helping organize the event.

Both Nye County Commission Districts IV and V are on the ballot for the June 9, 2026 primary election, meaning the debates at Coyote's Den offered some of the first structured public scrutiny of candidates competing for seats that shape governance across Pahrump and the wider county. More information about G-CON is available at thenevadapatriot.com under the G-CON tab.