Retiring senator embarks on sentimental journey through rural Nevada

RENO, Nev. - Sen. Richard Bryan embarks on a sentimental journey next week, his 12th and final annual summer tour of rural Nevada before he retires at the end of the year.

The former Democratic governor who used to move the state capital to each of Nevada's 17 county seats once a year figures he's traveled about 30,000 miles of Nevada highways and backroads since he was elected senator in 1988.

"I know I am going to miss it," said Bryan, who announced in February 1999 that he'd be stepping down at the end of this, his second, term.

"I've had no second thoughts about my decision, but this has been my life," he said in an interview Tuesday.

"Every summer, most of the summer has been out in rural Nevada traveling by automobile. We've probably done more than enough miles to circle the globe. It's been kind of a reflective time."

This year's trip begins July 31 at Pahrump. There are a few days off worked in, and a week off for the National Democratic Convention in Los Angeles, but the tour then resumes Aug. 18 at Ely and ends Sept. 3 at Fallon.

"I plan to keep the same pace going out of office as I did coming in. The voters that sent me to Washington deserve nothing less," Bryan said.

"This one has no ulterior motives," he said.

The senator handles the appearances like townhall meetings, giving a 10- or 15-minute overview of issues he's working on of interest to Nevadans, then opening it up for questions.

"Sometimes it gets into a bare-knuckled question-and-answer session. They are always candid," he said.

Most of the questioners are knowledgeable and familiar with the issues of the day, although some are off the wall.

Bryan remembers one fellow who "basically thought our problem with teen pregnancy dates back to elimination of the gold standard.

"I pointed out we went off the gold standard in 1933."

Bryan said one of his favorite things about the tour is they match up the dates with various local celebrations.

"We always hit the Ely Cattlemen's barbecue. I think we've spent Labor Day weekend in Elko for 22 years, and then move west to Winnemucca and finish up in Fallon for the Labor Day parade."

Bryan's tour this year:

Pahrump, July 31; Boulder City, Aug. 2; Virginia City, Aug. 6; Incline Village, Aug. 7; Zephyr Cove, Aug. 8; Fernley and Yerington, Aug. 10; Hawthorne, Aug. 11; Ely, Aug. 18; Douglas County, Aug. 23; Carson City, Aug. 24; Dayton and Silver Springs, Aug. 25; Lovelock, Aug. 29; Winnemucca, Aug. 30; Wells and Wendover, Aug. 31; Elko, Sept. 1; and Fallon, Sept. 3.

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