FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Julie Rowe
October 24, 2005 MassMedia: 775.322.0755
Lifelong Nevada Resident Mike Dillon Announces Candidacy for State Assembly District 26
(Reno, NV)- Mike Dillon, a lifelong Nevada resident, announced today his candidacy for State Assembly. Dillon will be running as a Republican in District 26 – the office is currently held by Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, who recently announced her intent to run for Congress.
Dillon, a 34-year-old fiscal conservative, is pro-business and is committed to issues related to education, health care, public safety and that of senior citizens.
“This is a critical time for issues facing the State of Nevada, and now more than ever we need strong leadership…effective leadership at the Legislature,” Dillon said.
And Dillon is truly no stranger to politics as the grandson of former U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Vucanovich. “I understand the process, have been a community servant for years and view this opportunity to serve in District 26 as a way to carry on a tradition of service by giving back to the community that I love,” he said.
Upon learning of her grandson’s intent to run for office, Vucanovich said, “I guess you could say Nevada is truly in our blood. I am thrilled, and not at all surprised, that Mike is committed to continuing our family’s legacy of serving this community and making a difference in the lives of our friends, family, colleagues and neighbors.”
Dillon attended public schools in northern Nevada from Kindergarten through graduation at Reno High School, and attended the University of Nevada, Reno where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He later earned a master’s degree in business administration. Dillon is licensed in the states of Nevada and California for Health & Life Insurance, and holds a State of Nevada teaching license for secondary education. Currently Dillon owns and operates Dillon Insurance Services. He is also Community Relations Director for the Builders Association of Northern Nevada (BANN). Prior to operating this business, Dillon was a teacher, basketball and golf coach, and partner in education coordinator at McQueen High School.
Dillon’s extensive community involvement includes serving on the board of directors for Education Collaborative, Academy for Career Education, Camp Galilee Foundation, YMCA of Sierra, Rotary Reno Central and serves on various committees in the University of Nevada, Reno Alumni Association. Additionally, Dillon is chairman of the Aaron E. Arnoldsen Memorial Golf Tournament, is Past President of the Reno Active 20-30 Club, an is a member of the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, Northern Nevada Human Resources Association, Nevada State Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and Northern Nevada Association of Health Underwriters. Dillon is a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Reno.
In 2004, Dillon was named Outstanding Young Alumni Award at the University of Nevada, Reno and is a graduate of the Leadership Reno-Sparks Program through the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce.
Dillon lives in Northwest Reno and is engaged to be married in 2006 to Siobhan McAndrew, a reporter and columnist at the Reno Gazette-Journal.
For additional information on Mike Dillon, please call him at 775-787-2006. Mailed correspondence should be sent to Mike Dillon for Assembly, PO Box 33321, Reno, NV 89533.
- ### -
BC-NV--NorNevada Briefs,677
Latest news in brief from northern Nevada
———
RENO, Nev. (AP) — The grandson of former Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, R-Nev., has political aspirations of his own.
Mike Dillon, 34, became the first candidate to enter the race for the seat being vacated by Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno, who’s seeking Vucanovich’s old seat.
Dillon, a Republican, worked on his grandmother’s campaigns as a young boy.
“I’ve been putting up yard signs since I was 10 years old,” he said.
Dillon said he’ll probably support the Tax and Spend Control for Nevada initiative, which would cap how much government can spend.
Angle’s predominately Republican district covers most of west Reno and stretches to Incline Village.
Grandson of former congresswoman wants to succeed Sharron Angle
ANJEANETTE DAMON
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 10/25/2005
Mike Dillon: He said he likely will support an effort to cap government spending.
Mike Dillon, an insurance broker, lobbyist and grandson of a former congresswoman, said Monday he's making his first bid for the Nevada Assembly next year.
Dillon, a Republican, is the first to jump in the race for a seat being vacated by four-term Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno. Angle is running in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District next year.
The open seat likely will draw a lively GOP primary in a district where Republicans outnumber Democrats by a 19-percent margin. Assembly District 26 includes most of west Reno, stretching from Incline Village to the North Valleys.
No Democrats have announced their intention to run.
Dillon, 34, is a native Nevadan who worked one year as a high school teacher before starting his own insurance brokerage firm, which sells group health insurance. He also is a lobbyist for the Builders Association of Northern Nevada and is engaged to marry Reno Gazette-Journal columnist Siobhan McAndrew.
He said he'd use his business and teaching experience to attack problems facing the state in education and health care. He proposed eliminating many of the health insurance coverage mandates required by the Legislature and would oppose any new mandates as a way to attract more group health plans to the state.
Dillon said he likely will support the Tax and Spend Control for Nevada initiative, which, similar to Colorado's controversial Tax Payer Bill of Rights, would cap how much government can spend.
Dillon grew up in politics, helping his grandmother, former U.S. Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, R-Reno, run campaigns as early as the 1980s.
"I've been putting up yard signs since I was 10 years old," he said.
With the primary election nearly a year away, Assembly races are already taking shape.
Republican John Wagner, a Carson City anti-tax activist and retired engineering instructor, announced Saturday he is going to challenge Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell, D-Carson City, in Assembly District 40.
Parnell said Monday she will seek a third term.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Julie Rowe, MassMedia 775.322.0755,
February 1, 2006 Mike Dillon 775.560.7006
Mike Dillon Raises Nearly $80,000 in 2005
In Race for Assembly Seat 26
(Reno, NV) -- Mike Dillon announced today that he has raised more than $76,000 in contributions since announcing his candidacy in October 2005. Dillon is running as a Republican for Assembly Seat in District 26.
Dillon is a lifelong resident and graduate of Reno High School and the University of Nevada, Reno.
Dillon’s campaign contributions prove a new generation of voters will be a major influence in this election. Dillon has raised more than $10,000 from people who have donated less than $100 and more than 40 percent raised so far is from donations made by other young professionals.
“Mike has the support of a young group of people. I think it’s unlike anything any other candidate in any other race will have in 2006. He proved that by having a Young Professionals fundraiser where more than 200 people under 35 showed up to demonstrate their support,” said Arjun Dhingra. (Dhingra, age 27, Reno resident, 691-0417)
“He’s the most involved, dedicated and passionate person when it comes to caring about Nevada. I’m behind him and excited about this election,” said Pat Martinez. (Martinez, age 35, Reno Real Estate Agent, 560-0790)
Dillon, 35, was a McQueen High School teacher, basketball and golf coach and is on the board of directors for Education Collaborative, Academy for Career Education, and Camp Galilee Foundation. He is also a member of the University of Nevada, Reno Alumni Association. He started and successfully runs his own small business, Dillon Insurance Services and is the community relations director for the Builders Association of Northern Nevada.
Additionally, Dillon founded and has run the Aaron E. Arnoldsen Memorial Golf Tournament for 10 years. Arnoldsen, a high school and college friend of Dillon’s, died in a tragic accident in 1993. The summer tournament has raised more than $120,000 in scholarships for UNR students in need.
“Mike has kept my son’s name alive through this tournament. And the fact that he started this tournament when he was just 24 years old really says something about his character. We are just one example of the many people who plan to do whatever we can to put the best person in this position,” said JoAnn Arnoldsen. (JoAnn Arnoldsen, Reno resident, 747-2599.)
Fast facts:
- Dillon’s grandmother is Barbara Vucanovich, a former congressman. Dillon started working on her campaigns when he was 10. To reach Vucanovich, 829-6155.
- Dillon is past president of the Reno Active 20-30 Club. He is still active in the philanthropic group of young professionals.
- Member of the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada Northern Nevada Human Resources Association, Nevada State Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and Northern Nevada Association of Health Underwriters.
- Dillon is a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Reno.
- Named Outstanding Young Alumni Award at the University of Nevada, Reno in 2004
- Graduate of the Leadership Reno-Sparks Program through the Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce.
- Dillon lives in Northwest Reno and is engaged to Siobhan McAndrew.
For media inquiries contact Dillon at 560-7006
Mike Dillon’s campaign line: 775-787-2006
Mike Dillon for Assembly, PO Box 33321, Reno, NV 89533
- ### -
