LET ME FIRST offer on behalf of all Republicans in Clark County a welcome for your interest, or at least passing curiosity, about Republicans here in this area. If you're a new resident, you may not know Clark County encompasses more than Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson. It extends all the way north to Mesquite and Indian Springs, south to Laughlin and Primm, and almost as far as Pahrump.

You may be a new Republican, or not even sure if you have anything in common with them. But if you believe in limited government, less taxes and more personal responsibility, we walk on the same common ground, and you might want to check us out on our Web site (www.clarkgop.org). We have links on our site to most of the Republican candidates running for office. Click on their site to check on their upcoming events and opportunities for you to support them either financially or by volunteering.

We have an extensive grass roots organization. If your interest concerns your immediate neighborhood, you might want to volunteer for grassroots in your precinct or Senate district. If your interest is more issue-oriented, we have grassroots organization for issues such as education and taxes. Contact our Web site or call our office for more information

We're now well into the general election season with the traditional Labor Day kickoff for election campaigns moved up closer and closer to the primary. Prepare for the deluge of ads and events going on from now until November 7th Election Day. More than half of the voters in Clark County voted early or mailed in their absentee ballots and this appears to be a growing trend in our busy Southern Nevada lifestyles. Early voting will begin on October 21st this year and will end on November 3rd. For newcomers, this voting is as convenient as making a visit to your local grocery store or shopping mall. Vote for good Republicans on the ballot, and don't forget to check the sales and bring home a gallon of milk.

Election year 2006 marks clear differences between Republican and Democrat candidates. Take time to learn the values of each candidate and see which ones more closely match your family's values and will bring prosperity and continued growth to Nevada. There will be lots of ads and lots of noise, so don't get distracted on what is important to your future. We'd really love to see you at our Central Committee Meeting on Tuesday, September 19th at 7:00 p.m. at Arizona Charlie's. It will be the last meeting before the general election and I expect a lot of our local candidates to be there.

Take a little time out of your busy schedules to attend one or two of the events listed below. You'll see and hear the candidates and their supporters, unfiltered by news media reports and articles, and may get a chance to shake their hand and look them in the eye. As a small population state, Nevada is still about personal politics and this is your chance to get involved in the political process.