Area Republicans watch services, recall the man

Kirsten Searer

Friday, June 11, 2004 | 11:07 a.m.

Tino Mendoza brushed tears from his eyes throughout former President Ronald Reagan's funeral this morning.

The 66-year-old Republican, a candidate for Assembly District 28, said he's followed Reagan's political philosophy for decades.

"He talked to people," Mendoza said. "He didn't talk down to people. You might say he was a simple man."

About 15 Republicans gathered at the state party headquarters in northwest Las Vegas to say a final goodbye to Reagan, the man whom President Bush said shared his "joyful hope" with the nation.

Republican supporters said that's one of the reasons they wanted to gather for the funeral.

"I wanted to be not the only one sitting and watching this," Mendoza said. "I cried my eyes out when I heard he had passed away. I knew it would happen sooner or later, but it gets to you."

Linda Rheinberger said she was touched by Reagan's kindness, confidence and leadership.

She said leaders such as Reagan inspired her to take a leadership role -- she's vice president of the Las Vegas Association of Realtors and will soon move into the presidency.

Several people said that Reagan embodied what they wanted in a president, saying he had integrity, compassion and a sense of humor about his role.

Sandi Ziser, wife of Senate candidate Richard Ziser, said she lived in California when Reagan was governor and had always admired him for not taking himself too seriously.