Assemblyman endorses Edwards’ presidential bid

Assemblyman Richard “Tick” Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, is endorsing John Edwards for president and will help with his campaign, the Democratic contender’s campaign announced Thursday.

A freshman assemblyman, Segerblom long has been active in the Democratic Party, serving as chairman of the Nevada Democratic Party from 1990 through the 1992 election. He was an Iowa organizer for Jimmy Carter in 1980 and for Howard Dean in 2004; in 1988, he coordinated the Nevada campaign of Michael Dukakis.

“Tick is a longtime grass roots activist whose entire family has a great history of fighting for working families in Nevada,” Edwards said in a prepared statement. “His organizing experience will be a tremendous asset to my campaign as we work to share my plans for bold change with Nevadans.”

A Boulder City native, Segerblom works as a civil attorney. He is the first Nevada Democratic elected official to sign on with the presidential campaign of a candidate other than Hillary Clinton. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., had asked state Democrats to stay neutral ahead of Nevada’s first early presidential nominating caucuses.

“I am proud to support John Edwards because I believe he is the best candidate to lead our country and the most electable Democrat running for president,” Segerblom said in a prepared statement. “America needs a leader who has a clear vision to change our country, one who is not afraid to tackle important issues such as providing universal health care and ending poverty in America.”