Brower announces for state Senate

Republican Greg Brower has announced he will run for the state Senate in the district he was appointed to after Bill Raggio's retirement.

His run was made possible when the special masters and Carson District Judge Todd Russell decided to collapse Mike McGinness's rural Senate district instead of Raggio's longtime Reno district, as was anticipated by the plans the Democratic Party drafted. Their plan would have left Brower no open seat to run for.

"The 2011 legislative session was a difficult one, and the next one promises to be just as challenging," said Brower.

He added that, although much was accomplished in the 2011 session, "much more remains to be done."

Brower, a former two-term assemblyman and ex-U.S. attorney for Nevada, was appointed to the seat by the Washoe County Commission just before the start of the session.

He is a graduate of the George Washington Law School.

Senate Minority Leader Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, said he was pleased with Brower's decision.

"Greg's leadership in Carson City helped prevent a tax on Nevadans of over a billion dollars," he said, describing Brower as "a great asset to our caucus."

Because of the maps certified by the court in the redistricting process, Brower may find himself facing a familiar opponent next year. Former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, who defeated Brower in his bid for a third term in that house, ran a tough campaign against Raggio three years ago and still lives in the district.