By Cy Ryan (contact)

Wed, Aug 13, 2008 (10:09 a.m.)

CARSON CITY – Former Assemblyman Don Gustavson says he wore out a pair of shoes walking his district to defeat 30-year incumbent John Marvel in the GOP primary election Tuesday.

The Assembly district includes Humboldt and Lander Counties and part of Sparks in Washoe County. Gustavson, who lives in Sparks, won big in Washoe County while Marvel captured the two rural counties.

In Washoe County, Gustavson said the voters “wanted somebody who lived there, not 220 miles away.” And he said Marvel’s switch of his vote on the bill to increase taxes in 2003 was a factor. Marvel had first sided with the Republicans in the Assembly to block the approval of the tax but then switched his vote to provide a required two-thirds approval vote. “They used that tax vote against me,” said Marvel.

Marvel, who turns 82 on Sept. 11, said “that’s enough,” referring to his 30 years in the Assembly. Marvel was a rancher in Lander County and has kept his residence there. But he has lived in Carson City much of the time.

The unofficial vote was 1,739 for Gustavson and 1,478 for Marvel. In Washoe County, Gustavson defeated Marvel 1,641 to 1,045.