RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – At the Washoe County Commission Chambers, Carl Copek and Seth Schrenzel participated in a tiebreaker ceremony on Wednesday to determine who will serve a four-year term on the Gerlach General Improvement District.
“Carl has been in town for 25 years,” says Schrenzel. “I’ve been in town on and off for 23 years.”
In the last election, Copek and Schrenzel each received 67 votes.
It’s the smallest community in Washoe County.
Here in Nevada, it’s up to the county clerk or the registrar of voters to break that tie with what’s called a “by a lot.”
Traditionally, prior tiebreakers have been determined with a deck of cards.
“Shuffling them and having the highest card wins,” says Andrew McDonald, Washoe County Registrar of Voters.
A coin toss determined Schrenzel would select a card first, then Copek.
Seth Schrenzel drew the higher card and will officially serve four years on the Gerlach GID.
Copek will fill out the remaining term on the board, which expires a year from now.
“I am announcing today my bid for re-election,” Copek said at the press conference after the card draw event.
The two will drive back to Gerlach, about two hours north of Reno, where they will take on issues like water and a call for a better staffed fire department.
They’ll probably have smiles on their faces just having experienced a little Nevada history.
“I wouldn’t say there is anything more Nevada than drawing cards to determine an official election,” says Schrenzel.
Both say the cards will head to Gerlach with them and be put on display at the office of the Gerlach General Improvement District.
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