Bipartisan effort strikes out

Clark County Commissioner Steve Stuart, a Democrat, and 17th District legislative candidate Brian Peck, a Republican, had what they thought was a cool idea.

Because their respective political parties were short on volunteers, they decided to use their own campaign volunteers to organize a benefit softball game for Share House this summer.

Last year’s game, pitting the Dems against the GOP, netted $2,600 for Share House, which provides shelter, meals and other services for the homeless.

Volunteers from the two campaigns had selected a date for this year’s game, Aug. 7, and were actively looking for a venue.

“We had a date,” Peck said. “Our campaign staffs had met twice. We were getting food lined up, calling business for donations.”

It’s. Not. Going. To. Happen.

Stuart said the county Democratic Central Committee squelched the plan two weeks ago.

“What I was told was that the campaign volunteers were committed to working on campaigns during the season,” he said. “It wasn’t that I was told I couldn’t, but that there weren’t people available to put it together. The county party said we just didn’t have the resources available for candidates or volunteers to do this.”

Peck’s disappointed. “It’s one day, one afternoon, in the spirit of giving back to the community,” he said. “It’s not about politics every minute.”

Stuart said he’s disappointed too. But the county party did dedicate all its proceeds from a recent picnic to Share House, he added. “It shows we can put people above politics.”

Kathie Durbin