For Ginger Simpson, serving as Nye County Public Administrator is more than a job — it is deeply tied to her lifelong connection to the Pahrump community and the families who call it home.
A third-generation resident with roots stretching back to the early days of Pahrump, Simpson is now seeking reelection after serving in the role for the past 10 years. Throughout her campaign, she emphasizes experience, continuity and a commitment to handling difficult situations with compassion and integrity.
“I am a true native and Pahrump-raised member of our community,” Simpson said.
Her family’s history in the area dates back to the early 1960s, when her grandparents relocated to Pahrump so her grandfather could work at the Nevada Test Site after serving in the Army. At the time, Pahrump was still a small rural town without its own school system, and children were bused across state lines to attend school in Shoshone, California.
“Crazy, huh?” Simpson said with a laugh. “Now the schools decide what school you go to by what street you live on, and here Nevada kids went to school in California.”
Simpson’s ties to the area also extend into neighboring Tecopa, California, where her father’s family operated the historic Delight’s Hot Springs. She attended school in both Tecopa and Nye County before completing her K-12 education locally. Later, she attended Great Basin College, earning certifications in Human Services and an Associate of Applied Science degree.
Today, much of her family still lives in the area, including her parents, siblings, children and grandchildren.
“I love this community,” Simpson said. “I love the town and we are here till we can retire.”
While she acknowledges that Pahrump faces challenges like any growing community, Simpson believes the town’s strengths often outweigh its negatives.
“There are many things to do in this community, you just need to try it,” she said. “So much of society today is based on indoor electronics, and if you get out and do things you might see the town a little bit differently.”
Simpson first became involved with the Public Administrator’s Office as a volunteer deputy in 2014 and 2015. After the previous Public Administrator unexpectedly left office in 2016, the Nye County Board of County Commissioners asked Simpson to step in and finish the remaining cases.
“I accepted and told the community I would clean up the office and run it as an asset to the community,” she said.
She later ran for election in 2018, winning the primary with more than 76 percent of the vote. In 2022, she again secured reelection with more than 61 percent of the primary vote in a four-person race.
Over the past decade, Simpson said she has worked to establish policies and procedures aimed at making the office more efficient and consistent for families navigating probate cases after the death of a loved one.
“I guess I am most proud of the changes, the policies, and procedures that I put into place that have made this a positive office for the county,” she said.
The role of Public Administrator often involves handling estates for deceased individuals who have no immediate family available locally to manage their affairs. Simpson said many of the families she works with are grieving while also trying to understand a complicated legal process from outside the community.
“The families that sit across from my desk and cry, they thank me for helping them,” Simpson said. “They tell me how they had no idea what to do or where to start, that I helped them through a horrible time in their life. That is the reward.”
At the same time, Simpson acknowledged that the position can also bring difficult conversations, particularly when verbal promises made by a deceased person are not legally documented.
“Generally the reason someone is upset is because they do not agree with the law, but I will always follow the law and the judge’s order,” she said.
Simpson said one of her primary goals moving forward is continuing efforts at the state level to improve communication between counties regarding deaths that occur outside a person’s home county. She described cases where individuals passed away in Las Vegas hospitals without local authorities in Nye County being notified, sometimes leaving vulnerable family members or unattended properties behind.
“A law needs to be in place,” Simpson said. “Just because it is small to them, it is huge to us.”
She also expressed concern about crimes committed against estates and deceased individuals, saying she believes stronger accountability could help reduce thefts and break-ins involving vacant homes.
Another point Simpson said often surprises residents is how the office itself is funded. According to Simpson, the Public Administrator’s Office does not currently receive taxpayer funding for salaries, retirement benefits or operational expenses beyond the county-provided building and utilities.
“Taxpayers do not pay a dime for the office of the Public Administrator,” she said.
Simpson also addressed a proposal expected to come before the Nye County Board of County Commissioners regarding potentially changing the Public Administrator from an elected office to an appointed county position. Simpson argued that the current structure keeps the office directly accountable to voters while operating without county-funded staffing costs.
As she seeks another term, Simpson said her focus remains on continuing the work she has done over the past decade and eventually preparing someone else to continue operating the office in a similar manner when she decides to eventually retire.
“I made a promise to our community members that I would continue to do this job as long as I am elected to continue,” she said.
Outside of her official role, Simpson remains involved in community events and nonprofit efforts throughout Nye County. She helped launch Pahrump’s first off-road UTV and ATV poker run, the Spooktacular Poker Run, which raises money for local nonprofit organizations each year.
“I am very much a part of the community, and I value family, friends and a rural way of life,” Simpson said.
Reflecting on both her work and personal experiences, Simpson said the position has reinforced how fragile life can be.
“Life is way too short for anything but to enjoy and be thankful for every day you have,” she said. “You never know what day will be the last.”
