December 13, 2007
District 36 State Legislator Visits County

Photo by Dave Maxwell District 36 legislator Ed Goedhart at Windmill Ridge during Alamo visit.

By Dave Maxwell

Assemblyman Ed Goedhart, of Amargosa Valley, visited Lincoln County on December 11. The Assemblyman said he was making a tour through the county, “To interface with people that elected me to office and let them know I’m here to answer questions or help them if they have some needs and concerns, to the extent that I can.” He was also to make visits this trip to Caliente, Panaca and Pioche.

District 36, which Goedhart represents encompasses all of Lincoln, Nye, Mineral, Esmeralda, and the southern part of Churchill County.

In talking with the few citizens that attended the Alamo breakfast meeting at Windmill Ridge, Goedhart heard the concerns of local ranchers and townspeople, regarding the instances of federal government interference with ranchers operations, the slow process of getting federal grant money for communities, and federal rules that are too stringent.

Alamo resident Vaughn Higbee complained to Goedhart about federal marshals seeking to impose greater authority than law allows over even the remote grazing areas. He said he thinks the government should just let well enough alone and state and local government needs to step in with a voice to help correct an increasingly serious situation. Goedhart responded by saying, “The Feds will keep on taking as much power as we let them have. The price of democracy is ever constant vigilance.” He echoed the sentiments of many who say, “I love my country, but I do fear my government.”

Goedhart said he felt that the County Sheriff ought to be the supreme law of the county, not federal bureaucracy, which has taken more authority than is reasonable. The local officers who know the local people are better suited to control things as opposed to an outside agency.