Here in Nevada our quality of life is becoming desecrated and we have been driven into an economic abyss by current elected and appointed officials, the worst in the nation. For the past two decades or better Nevada's economy was driven by casino based tourism & a Ponzi chain letter like scheme of growth and construction for constructions sake; of ultimately carpenters building houses for carpenters, soon to be unemployed and foreclosed upon. We must build a brand new economy, an economy built on bricks not sticks. I am a lifelong practicing economist and a businessman. I have owned and managed agricultural, commercial, and residential properties for over 40 years. Excellence in education is an essential building block of any new economy. Green energy production and equipment manufacture should be pursued. Renewable energy systems manufacturing would be a more appropriate place to use STAR Bonding as opposed to big box stores to put legitimate old time mom & pop retailers out of business. We should also rebuild our tourism based on the great outdoors and our history and heritage. Agriculture could be revitalized and we could return to growing crops with our rural water instead of houses.

      We must leave behind the historic good ol' boys backroom special interest controlled so called leadership in this State. Insanity can be defined as continuing to do the same thing over & over and expecting different results. It would be fool hardy for we the people to rely upon the same old officials that led us into these crisis’s to now be somehow ordainly enlightened, and willing and capable of leading us out of them.

      Nevada's best days are ahead of us, but we need new leadership to guide us into the future, with the people, the citizens, sitting side by side with representatives that will indeed truly represent them.

      Gary Schmidt, "T-Party" Republican Candidate for State Assembly

Gary Schmidt
35 year Washoe property owner and business operator, former member Washoe County Board of Equalization, Community and Political Activist

       My best friend and companion of almost 15 years, Luke "Chowbacca" passed from life in my arms on Saturday, September 10th, 9-10-11. For those who never met Luke he was a kind and gentle full furred Black Chow dog that looked as much like an ape with a lion’s mane or a miniature Buffalo as a dog. I remember at one political rally when he was wearing a "Schmidt Happens" T-shirt when a serious young woman asked, "What kind of animal is that anyway?". I of course responded that it was not an animal; he was a "Chowbacca". Luke never met a person or dog he didn't like. Over the last decade and a half we had thousands of walks in the desert and forest; in the foothills between Steam Boat and Virginia City where we lived for 8 years and survived the Andrew Lane fire in 2004 (I had rescued him from the hillside being slowly chased by the fire - boy was he glad to see me that day); in the desert foothills above Sun Valley where we lived for a while after losing our house in that fire; in the Black Rock dessert and throughout the town of Gerlach where he was a popular resident; throughout old town Sparks and Victorian Square and the Marina where we lived for a couple of years; in the Humboldt County forest with friends and relatives who are third generation residents there; and many other open spaces throughout Northern Nevada and California. Luke accompanied me throughout three political campaigns, in 06, 08, and 2010. He has been on T.V. and his picture in news print dozens of times. He was featured prominently in much of my campaign literature. You can find him on the internet on my site and if you Google "Luke Chowbacca". He was at all times my loyal companion, always cheerful, friendly, kind, appreciative, curious, and full of and loving life. He brought much joy and countless smiles to everyone he met. We participated in and enjoyed hundreds of events such as the Reno 4th of July Parades, countless dozens of Hot August Night cruises, the Dayton Valley Days and McClould Thanks Giving pet parades, Virginia City Veterans Day Parades, Sun Valley Days Show and Shines, the Rib Cook-off’s, Sparks Christmas Parades and Farmers Markets, New Years Celebrations in Downtown Reno, Nevada Day Parades in Carson City, many political rallies and speeches, and he even spent a couple of days with me at my side at the rotunda in the County Commission chambers during my days on the Board of Equalization when I arranged for "dog days" when we had to meet on the weekends. For those who have had faithful pet partners I need not explain and for those of you that have not been so blessed I could not explain. Luke died peacefully at home in his sleep at 3 in the afternoon of old age, around a hundred years of age in dog years. He now lies buried in peace underneath a hundred year old buckboard wagon where he used to like to rest in the shade on lazy afternoons after his "ranch" walks and where he often slept throughout the evening in recent years. He was a real gift of joy, love, and life, and will always be beside me in spirit and soul.