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Lowden ready to run against Harry Reid

'I am not a career politician,' Sue Lowden told a standing room-only crowd Tuesday morning at American Legion Post 60, as a guest of the Laughlin Economic Development Corporation. 'I do not intend to make this a lifelong career.'

Lowden, 57, is running for the Republican Party nomination for U.S. senator. If she wins the June 8 primary, Lowden will face off with Democratic Sen. Harry Reid, current senate majority leader.

Lowden has had many careers - elementary school teacher in her native New Jersey, KLAS/Channel 8 news reporter and anchor in Las Vegas, Nevada state senator, senate majority whip, Nevada Republican Party chairman and businesswoman.

'Folks ask me why I'm running and I just tell you that I'm genuinely angry at what's going on in Washington and I'm fearful of what's going to happen for our children's generation and our grandchildren's generation,' Lowden said.

She cited deficit spending and bailouts as some of the things that upset her.

Lowden contends Nevada hasn't received its fair share of money its residents pay for their income tax.

She favors cutting personal and business taxes.

The most important issue in Nevada is, 'Jobs, jobs, jobs,' Lowden said.

She spoke for about 11 minutes and then took questions, explaining she was on a 'listening tour.'

Answering a question about illegal immigration, Lowden said, 'First and foremost, close the borders.' Also adding to the problem are people who overstay their visas, she said. Crossing the border is illegal and it's illegal to hire undocumented workers, Lowden said. 'It's pretty simple to enforce those existing laws.' She said the laws are not currently being enforced.

In response to a question about 'pork' or 'earmarks,' Lowden replied, 'I would love to sign a contract with my fellow senators' to not accept pork. Everyone would need to sign for the agreement to work, she said.

Regarding the health care battle, Lowden lamented that the dozen doctors in congress are not involved in the legislation. She conceded reform is needed and suggested ways to fix current problems. People should be able to buy individual insurance policies across state lines and all policies should not have the same government mandates, which make insurance more expensive, she said.

Doctors order expensive tests for fear of being sued and tort reform is needed, Lowden added.

'So I wish we could start over and not have 2,000 pages but have maybe 20 pages, 25 pages, that we can all read and all agree on,' she said.

She asked for a show of hands, and everyone agreed that anyone with a pre-existing condition should be able to obtain health insurance. It's not a partisan issue, Lowden said, and it could be voted on as a stand-alone bill.

Another questioner said she was concerned about elections being fair and accurate. Elections are being monitored for fairness, Lowden assured her. She told the audience, 'Don't be frustrated. Your vote counts,' citing elections won by as few as 10 votes.

Lowden expects the race against Reid to be a tough one. 'He said he was going to vaporize me. And you know what I told him? 'Start on my hips,' ' she joked.

Lowden has strong ties to Laughlin. She and her husband, Paul, are majority shareholders in the Archon Corporation, which owns the Pioneer Hotel-Gambling Hall in Laughlin.

Two of their sons live in Laughlin.

Lowden said she favors home rule for Laughlin. 'It's a touchy issue and I know some of the casinos are not for it,' she said. 'I worked very hard to lobby those at the legislature so that you have your own home rule.

'I think I'll have a little more clout if I'm your United States senator with that issue than I did the last time as a citizen and as a property owner here in Laughlin - so I'm with you on that 110 percent,' Lowden said.

In response to a concern expressed by one audience member that she'll lose touch with the voters if she moves to Washington, Lowden said, 'We started our campaign here in Laughlin and I won't forget Laughlin.'