NORTHERN EXPOSURE
Ty Cobb has attracted the support of Northern Nevada's leading senators and more
BY LEWIS WHITTEN

Nevada State Sens. William Raggio and Randolph Townsend have helped many legislators win elections in Northern Nevada. With Ty Cobb, it looks as if they've found Sharron Angle's successor. Cobb is a fifth generation Nevadan and successful Reno attorney. He's planning on winning the Assembly seat left open by Angle, who is a candidate for the House of Representatives.

Cobb has experience at both the federal and local levels of government and currently serves as an associate with Jones Vargas, one of Nevada's oldest and most prestigious law firms. He returned to Reno last year after service in Iraq and also working at the Pentagon for the Department of Defense for a total of two years. That's when he was urged by many community leaders to run for office.

"My family's been involved with helping the community since the 1860s," Cobb said. "That's why I helped in Iraq and stayed on with the Department of Defense. When I came back, Sens. Raggio and Townsend urged me to consider running for Assembly so I could contribute my services on the state level."

With the two senators support, Cobb appears to be the favorite. Additionally, Cobb has been pounding the pavement and knocking on doors, getting to know the voters in his district. He's concerned with many of the same issues as his constituents.

"There are a number of issues Republicans should address: illegal immigration, property tax restraint and growth/water issues," Cobb said. "Public safety and educating our populous and workforce are other important issues. I'm not in favor of pet projects."

Cobb says he favors a limited and efficient government. Surprisingly though, he's not lending support to state Sen. Bob Beers' TASC initiative, which would effectively limit and rein in out of control government spending.

Cobb supports using the current surplus for property tax relief rather than gas tax relief, as that is what his constituents prefer.

Republicans are something else his constituents favor. Assembly District 26 is just more than 50 percent Republican and about 31 percent Democrat. That means whoever wins the district's Aug. 15 Republican primary will sail on to victory in November.

Four other Republicans have put their name on the ballot for Assembly 26. Unlike the other candidates, Cobb has secured some big name endorsements. In addition to Sens. Raggio and Townsend, Washoe County District Attorney Richard Gammick and Sheriff Dennis Balaam also endorsed Cobb for Assembly 26.

Northern Nevada's Republican super-duo, Raggio and Townsend, are by far Cobb's best allies though. Townsend, speaking for himself and Raggio, had this to say about Cobb. 

"Sen. Raggio and I have been working together in the Legislature for 24 years to serve the needs of Nevada. We are very pleased to support Ty Cobb for state Assembly to bring his energy, enthusiasm and particular expertise to this office to help us with the important work ahead. Sen. Raggio and I agree that Ty will be an effective advocate for the issues that face Northern Nevada and he will be an outstanding Legislator as well." LW