LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Congressional candidate Carrie Buck discussed gas prices, the war in Iran, the economy, tourism, immigration, water rights and land use ahead of the general election.
Gas prices
Buck said rising fuel costs are affecting families, saying it now costs her $90 to fill her minivan. She said Nevada should look at increasing fuel supply through a larger pipeline from Utah rather than relying on California, citing refinery closures in California. She said the war in Iran has also affected fuel costs.
War in Iran
Buck said she would support efforts to end the war in Iran as quickly as possible and said Congress should have oversight regarding its duration. Asked what she would have done differently, Buck said she would have taken stronger initial action, saying the country underestimated the threat.
“I think the death to America crowd, we cannot underestimate. We have to hit them hard,” Buck said.
Economy
Buck criticized Rep. Dina Titus for voting against a no-tax-on-tips policy. Buck said she supports no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security. She said she supports extending the child tax credit, saying it benefits her family as a mother of four boys.
“I’m for more money in people’s pockets,” Buck said.
Tourism and economic diversification
Buck said gaming revenue remains strong despite a decline in tourism, citing strip activity on weeknights as evidence the city remains active. She said her solution is to diversify Nevada’s economy, including attracting businesses relocating from New York, California, Oregon and Washington.
Buck said she would like to position Las Vegas as a hub for the cryptocurrency market and cited Haas Manufacturing’s planned move to the area as an example of manufacturing diversification.
Asked about the impact of reduced tourism on smaller businesses, Buck pointed to the cost of fuel and air travel, as well as inflation she attributed to the Biden administration.
Immigration
Buck said she supports a closed border and criticized the Biden administration’s border policies. She said she supports deporting people who have committed crimes while in the country illegally.
Buck said some immigrants in the country are working toward citizenship, but said she does not support policies that provide government benefits to people who entered the country illegally. She noted that a pathway to citizenship was not established during the prior Democratic-controlled Congress.
On ICE enforcement, Buck, who said she is married to a retired law enforcement officer, said she does not support defunding ICE or police. She said enforcement should focus on people she described as committing crimes in communities.
Water crisis
Asked about Nevada’s water crisis and lawsuit against the federal government over water restrictions, Buck said her opponent has held office for more than 10 years while the situation worsened. She said she supports desalination plants and additional reservoirs in California, federal funding to prevent rainwater from being released into the ocean, and expanding the Sloan pipeline, which she said President Trump helped advance. She said she would also consider a northern pipeline for water.
Buck said she believes other states along the Colorado River, including Arizona, should be held accountable for their water use. She said Nevada is already a leader in water conservation and said she would push partners in the water compact to do their part.
Energy
Buck said energy is a key issue tied to water, citing the Hoover Dam’s role in both water and power. She criticized California’s move toward electric vehicles, citing rolling blackouts, and pointed to Utah’s use of nuclear energy as a model she supports.
Land use and growth
Buck said Nevada uses two-thirds of its water allocation and said she would prioritize securing additional water resources. She said responsible growth is important once water issues are addressed, saying increased housing supply would help lower housing costs.
Buck said she opposes her opponent’s position against growth. Referencing a prior effort to release Bureau of Land Management land that was opposed by Rep. Dina Titus and ultimately failed, Buck said land release should be done responsibly, distinguishing between land near developed areas and land used for hunting in rural and northern Nevada. She referenced a bill from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto as a reasonable approach to land release.
Campaign pitch
Asked why voters should support her, Buck cited 30 years working in the community as an educator, including turning a low-performing school into a national Title I school and growing a charter school network serving 9,000 students that she said outperformed district counterparts.
“I’m a law and order girl,” Buck said. “I believe that we need to make sure that we have safe communities and wonderful schools for our children to thrive in.”
Buck criticized her opponent’s decade in office, saying she would fight for Nevada and work to keep more money in residents’ pockets.
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