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Since Republican incumbent Garn Mabey announced he would not run for re-election, candidates have been coming out of the woodwork to be the next representative for District 2.

Seven candidates have thrown their hat into the race. The district, known as a GOP stronghold where nearly 45 percent of active voters are Republican, will have two primaries.

Carlos Blumberg and Meghan Smith will face off on the Democrats’ side of the ticket. Ernest Fitzpatrick, John Hambrick and Jack Surpure will duke it out to represent the Republicans in November.

Hambrick, a 63-year-old retired federal law enforcement officer and former chairman of the Clark County Republican Party, was first to announce his candidacy.

Nevada’s Republican leadership is behind Hambrick. He’s been endorsed by Sen. John Ensign, Gov. Jim Gibbons, and Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, among others.

Hambrick said one of the top issues he is running on is the Clark County education system and wasteful spending. “I agree we need to pay teachers adequate and fair salaries … but I don’t think we are getting an accurate account of how money is spent,” he said.