October 4, 2007
State Attorney General Visits Lincoln County

Photo by Dave Maxwell Nevada State Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto

By Dave Maxwell

Nevada’s State Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto made a tour through 12 of the states 17 counties the last week of September beginning with a stop on the 24th at the Alamo Senior Citizens Center. Theme of the tour was “Five Challenges Facing Rural Nevadans: Methamphetamine, Identity Theft, Domestic Violence, Senior and Consumer Protection and Child Advocacy.” All are issues that impact every community in the state.

Mrs. Masto was accompanied by several staff members with professional expertise in each of the above areas. Each member spoke to the group at the Senior Center and explained how their particular agency can be of help to people in rural communities of the state and how people can contact the Attorney General’s office for that help.

“Nevada’s rural communities face a unique set of challenges because of their location and the climate of our state. As Attorney General, my office can help our rural communities face these challenges,” she said. “The goal of this road trip is to get out and meet face-to-face with residents, hear their concerns and talk about what our office can do to help.

Of particular interest is help with domestic violence, she said. “Nevada is currently listed #1 in the nation in cases of domestic violence. And it is not limited to the big cities, the rural areas have their difficulties too, and we’re trying to combat that.”

As the newly elected State Attorney General, talking office last January, Mrs. Masto said it had been part of her campaign platform that she would make a tour to visit rural communities, at least twice a year, and talk about the issues that are important to the people in those areas. “I need to make sure that I’m out there representing everybody and hearing what they have to say,” she said. “After the legislative session this is the first one we were able to put together.”

Following Alamo, the tour was scheduled in Pioche that same afternoon and Ely that evening, with stops the rest of the week in Elko, Battle Mountain, Winnemucca, and Lovelock. “This is just a first step in getting out there and letting people know who we are.” “We’re going to be back,” she said. “Hopefully the people will have a lot of questions for us or want to find out what we’re doing.