In a town where more than 80 percent of Nye County’s population resides, the absence of a local governing body is an issue Dr. Tom Waters believes can no longer be ignored. Through open letters and public conversations, the former Pahrump Town Board member is calling for the return of a Town Board to better serve the unique and growing needs of the Pahrump community. Waters, who served as an elected, unpaid member of the Town Board from 2011 until its dissolution in 2015, has been a consistent voice urging residents to wake up, get involved, and energize their town by restoring a layer of governance that focuses solely on Pahrump.
The Pahrump Town Board, made up of elected volunteers, had been a part of the town’s structure for over three decades. Unlike the Nye County Board of Commissioners, who are responsible for the entirety of the sprawling third-largest county in the United States, the Town Board’s focus was purely local. On Election Day, November 6, 2012, a total of 14,357 votes were cast on County Question #2, which asked whether the Pahrump Town Board form of government should be discontinued. The measure passed by a razor-thin margin, with 7,294 residents voting “Yes” to abolish the Town Board and 7,063 voting “No” to retain it—a difference of just 231 votes. Had just 116 voters chosen differently, the outcome would have been reversed. Following the narrow vote, governance of the town fell entirely to the Board of County Commissioners beginning January 1, 2015. Waters emphasizes that the loss was not just the loss of a board but the loss of a direct, local voice.
According to Waters, the vote to eliminate the Town Board stemmed from dissatisfaction with a few individual board members at the time, not with the concept of the Town Board itself. Frustrations were politicized, and misconceptions spread rapidly, with claims that keeping the Town Board would lead to incorporation of Pahrump into a full-fledged city, a move Waters says was never within the board’s power to enact. Even a decade later, Waters encounters residents who mistakenly believe he supported incorporation. He clarifies that the Town Board operated under statutes that made incorporation an entirely separate and distant process, not something the board could unilaterally pursue.
Today, Waters believes Pahrump is feeling the consequences of losing that local governance. With only five County Commissioners responsible for overseeing the entire county—including the small towns of the county like Tonopah, Amargosa, Beatty, Round Mountain and Gabbs—there simply isn’t enough time, focus, or specialized attention given to the needs of Pahrump. Waters points out that although four of the five commissioners live in Pahrump, their obligations to the county as a whole stretch their focus thin. “It’s impossible to wear that many hats and do it all in a fair manner, even when you try,” Waters said. “The county commissioners are really trying. It’s just too much.”
Waters notes that other towns across Nye County, many of them far smaller than Pahrump, have managed to maintain Town Boards or Town Advisory Boards. Tonopah, for example, has both a Town Board and a Town Manager, despite having a fraction of Pahrump’s population. By contrast, Pahrump—with nearly 50,000 residents—has neither a Town Board nor even an advisory board dedicated to its local affairs.
One of the strongest arguments for reestablishing a Town Board, Waters says, is the need for a focused body to manage Pahrump’s parks, cemeteries, buildings and grounds, fire department, and recreational facilities. These were the core areas under the previous Town Board’s oversight, and they remain critical to the daily life and growth of Pahrump. Waters notes that projects such as the proposed splash pad and the still-unfinished fairgrounds could have progressed much more efficiently under the guidance of a dedicated Town Board. Without one, these community enhancements, specifically the fair grounds, have lingered for years without resolution.
Waters also highlights past achievements of the Town Board that many newer residents may not know. For instance, the Town Board had secured a location and saved approximately half a million dollars toward establishing a local airport, a project that was eventually sidelined by county leadership in favor of investments in Tonopah’s airport.
When asked what a new Town Board structure might look like, Waters recommends a familiar model: five elected members, with staggered terms to ensure continuity, meeting twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays. Board members would not be paid, just as they were not in the past. Only the hiring of a Town Manager to oversee operations would add an expense to the town, but Waters believes the benefit of dedicated management would far outweigh the modest cost. A Town Manager would relieve the County Manager of the responsibility of simultaneously overseeing town functions and countywide operations, something Waters believes is currently stretching resources thin.
Waters acknowledges that not everyone will immediately support the idea of reestablishing a Town Board, and he has faced resistance when speaking during public comment at commissioners’ meetings. Still, he remains optimistic that many residents, particularly those newer to Pahrump, will see the value in local governance once they understand how much decision-making power currently rests outside their reach. He stresses that commissioners should not be forced into an uncomfortable political position on the issue. Instead, he advocates for a public ballot question that would allow the voters of Pahrump to decide.
An elected Town Board would be preferable, Waters says, because it avoids the pitfalls of cronyism that could arise from an appointed advisory board. Elections would give residents the power to choose representatives focused solely on Pahrump’s best interests, without the complications of political favor-trading.
Although Waters is passionate about restoring a Town Board, he makes it clear he has no personal ambitions to run for a seat. “I have stated over and over, Tom Waters will not be a candidate for the Town Board,” he said. “I gave my four years to the town, and I’m willing to serve in the background to help. But as far as volunteering and being elected again, no, that’s not going to happen.”
Waters urges residents not to confuse the push for a Town Board with discussions about incorporation. In his view, a Town Board simply provides local governance over existing municipal services, without turning Pahrump into an incorporated city with all the additional bureaucracy and tax burdens that could accompany such a change. The Town Board would serve to better advise the county commissioners, manage Pahrump’s affairs more effectively, and ensure that the town’s future is shaped by those who live in it.
As Pahrump’s population continues to grow, Waters warns that waiting too long could result in more drastic changes being forced upon the town. Nevada law mandates that once a community reaches a certain population threshold—believed to be around 100,000 residents—incorporation is no longer optional but required. Preparing now by reestablishing local governance could ensure that when the time comes, Pahrump is ready to take the next steps with a foundation of experience and community involvement.
Waters’ message is clear: the time for action is now. Pahrump has waited ten years, and the challenges facing the town have only grown. Restoring a Town Board is not about revisiting the past but about building a stronger, more responsive future. He encourages residents to contact their county commissioners, advocate for a public vote, and stand together to reestablish a Town Board that will put Pahrump’s needs first.
2 Comments
We have been residents for over 8 years. We have observed the growth and the lack of oversight of this growth. Tom Watson’s information makes sense. We would support any actions towards this end.
I wholeheartedly disagree with remaking a “town board” regardless of how it is formed. An extra layer of government is not needed, and actions like this are intended as stepping stones toward incorporation. We need to pull this weed from the root and put it in the trash. Waters was part of the costly, divisive, and out-of-touch town board before, and Pahrump voted it dissolved—for good cause. I do not support Tom Waters’ vision. Not one bit—neither should any of you readers.