Barnes to again face Lyons in Clark Public Utilities race

Mike Lyons will once again try to unseat incumbent Nancy Barnes in the race for Clark Public Utilities commissioner.

Barnes has held the District 2 seat, which covers southeastern Clark County, since 1992. And it appears voters are ready for six more years, as she staked a comfortable lead in the race, taking 47.56 percent of the 17,860 votes cast. Lyons, who came within 1 percentage point of Barnes in 2010, trailed in early returns with 29.91 percent of the votes.

The next challengers, Donna Roberge and Bob Cone, took 12.49 and 9.45 percent of the votes, respectively.

Barnes, who has served on the Washington Public Utility District Association and the American Public Power Association, touted her commitment to maintaining good customer service and keeping utility rates low.

“I’m just thrilled,” she said Tuesday night, thanking voters for their “vote of confidence.”

Lyons, who serves as a Clark County Fire District 5 commissioner and has a background in mechanical engineering, said he was pleased with Tuesday’s results.

“I’m very happy to make it through the primary,” he said. “I look forward to the general.”