Legislative candidates to speak at Democratic luncheon

Speaking at Monday's Democratic luncheon will be Aaron Sims, the Democratic candidate for Nevada State Senate District 16, and Shannon McDaniel, the Democratic candidate for Nevada State Assembly, District 40. In the November 8th general election, they will face off against Republican Senate candidate Lisa Krasner and incumbent GOP Assemblyman P.K. O'Neill.

Born and raised in California's Central Valley, Aaron Sims grew up in a working-class family. His father was a firefighter and his mother was a respiratory therapist who became a stay-at-home mom. Throughout his upbringing he was taught the value of honestly, hard work, and determination to make a difference while overcoming life's challenges.

Aaron's interest in politics started with the 2000 presidential election. At age 11 Aaron's family moved from Manteca to Gardnerville, where he became fascinated with political campaigns. While attending Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School, he volunteered at an office organizing for the 2004 campaign. He spent the next eight years working for a variety of candidates.

Aaron served as a lobbyist during the 2015 legislative session, and has worked as an advocate for various progressive causes. In 2020 he ran for mayor of Carson City, and has since become involved with Our Center of Northern Nevada, the John Muir Club and a number of community-based advocacy groups. If elected, Aaron says his focus will be on homelessness, healthcare, education and criminal justice reform.

Shannon McDaniel is a licensed professional engineer and water rights surveyor. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering. Her professional affiliations include the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, the National Ground Water Association, and the Nevada Water Resources Association. She currently works at Resource Concepts, Inc. (RCI) of Carson City.

Prior to joining RCI, Shannon worked for the Nevada Division of Water Resources for nearly 10 years, beginning in the hydrology section, performing water level measurements, pumpage inventories and the associated reports. In time she moved up to the job of reviewing time extensions for filing proofs of completion and beneficial use, tentative and final subdivision maps, proofs of beneficial use submittals, and serving as project manager for the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District Water Rights Mapping Project.

Shannon created and taught the Well Drilling Regulations and Forms course, managed the well driller licensing program, and performed well drilling site inspections and the video logging of wells in the well drilling regulations section. She performed regular basin engineering duties including water rights application reviews, drafting permit terms, performing field investigations and drafting certificates, rulings and orders.

Most recently, Shannon served as Chief of the Well Drilling Regulations and Adjudications Sections, performing the review of water right application recommendations, proposing amendments to Nevada Administrative Code Chapter 534 (Underground Water and Wells) and assisting the Nevada Division of Minerals with proposed amendments to NAC 534A (Geothermal Resources).

A graduate of Dayton High School, Shannon now lives in Carson City. When she isn't out playing soccer, listening to music or watching movies with her kittens, you can find Shannon traveling, camping, hiking or generally enjoying the outdoors. She's a graduate of the Emerge Nevada program, which prepares women to run for public office.

Sponsored by the Democratic Men's Committee, this event is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Monday, August 22nd, and can be attended either in person at Black Bear Diner, inside Max Casino, or online via Zoom. The presentation will begin after all the lunch orders have been taken, around 1:30. Those wishing to be on distribution for luncheon Zoom links should email Rich Dunn, Men's Committee Events Coordinator, at richdunn@aol.com.