2018 local election races set

After a two-week filing period ended on March 16, eight people filed for three seats on the Mesquite City Council and three people filed for two seats on the Virgin Valley Water District.

However, only two of the three city council seats will appear on the June primary ballot. Election laws require at least two but only two names appear on the general election ballot in November. Since only two people filed for Seat 3, that race will not appear on the June ballot. The other two seats, 1 and 4 had three candidates each, therefore, those races will appear on the June ballot with the top two vote-getters moving on to the general election.

All three candidates who filed for the Virgin Valley Water District will automatically advance to the general election in November with the top two vote-getters taking the seats.

Those filing for Seat 1 on the city council were incumbent Geno Withelder, Sandra Ramaker and L. Kay Mercer. Withelder was first election to the council in 2009. He was re-elected in 2013. If he wins the seat again, it will be his last term.

Ramaker was first elected to the Virgin Valley Water District Board of Directors in 2010. She was re-elected to a two-year term in 2014. She was defeated in her re-election effort when she ran again in 2016. Ramaker also ran unsuccessfully for city council in 2013. She is currently president of the Virgin Valley Democratic Club.

Mercer is new to the political scene in Mesquite. She initially filed for Seat 4 but switched to Seat 1 at the end of the filing period.