Tom Collins

LAS VEGAS-Filing began this morning for non-judicial candidates in the Silver State, officially kicking off the election season.  Check back regularly throughout the day with PolitickerNV.com for a list of filed candidates.

Filed thus far:

U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)As reported earlier in the day, U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today endorsed N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton for president of the United States.  Berkley’s endorsement of Clinton had been rumored for some time but was likely made this morning in an effort to divert attention from and lessen the brunt of the Culinary Workers’ endorsement of Ill. Sen. Barack Obama.

“I’m supporting Sen. Clinton for president of the United States for two reasons,” said Berkley in an early morning teleconference.  “I believe she is the best candidate for Nevada and Nevada-specific issues which are very important to me.  I also think she’s the best candidate for the country.”

Berkley’s endorsement comes less than a year after she was quoted in “The Hill” saying “The three of us [Berkley, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and former Nevada Democratic Party chairman Tom Collins] made a pact amongst ourselves that we would remain neutral so that the presidential candidates would feel comfortable coming [to Nevada].”