Former Chairwoman of the Nevada Democratic party Jill Derby announced her intention to run against Congressman Dean Heller for the Second Congressional District on Wednesday, citing disappointment with Heller as her main reason for a second bid.

“I’m Jill Derby, I’m back and I am still fed up with politics in the region,” Derby said to a small crowd that gathered at an architectural firm in downtown Reno for her announcement.

The Nevada native gave up her seat as Democratic party chairwoman to pursue the congressional seat.

Derby said her decision to run was the result of dissatisfaction with Heller’s record including his opposition to the State Children’s Health Insurance (SCHIP) bill, his management of rising fuel costs and his decisions concerning Iraq.

Her dissatisfaction came from Heller’s political concurrence with President George Bush’s policies, referencing issues such as high prescription drug prices, Iraq policy, oil policy and tax breaks for the wealthy.

Derby also listed environmental conservation as high on her priority list.

“A Congress that talks about steroids while our economy falters, a war rages on and the polar ice cap melts deserves to be sent packing,” Derby said.

Concerning the sickly housing market in Nevada, Derby said that she is still forming her opinions on the issue.

“I have not decided on one particular policy,” Derby said. “But I don’t think it should have happened in the first place with the sub-prime loans. I think we need to look at reforming our policies.”

Derby said that her now established name, along with Heller’s established record, will differentiate this race from her previous bid.

“I am starting from a whole different base,” Derby said. "I started from ground zero before.”

Picking up on the momentum she gained in the previous election, Derby is keeping her previous slogan of “Give ‘em the boot.”

“My strategy is to win starting where I left off,” Derby said. “The energy is there and the wind is at our back.”

Party members expressed their support of Derby at the event, saying that her moderate stance attracts them.

“What I like about Jill is her independent spirit,” Julia Ratti, a self-proclaimed solid democrat, said. “She is going to vote against some of the things that I care about but that is ok.”

Ratti, who is running for the Sparks City Council in Ward 3, said she is a supporter of the party. However, she said she is supporting Derby because of her moderate views. She also believes that Derby has a better chance at success because of the marked differences that have now been established with Heller’s record.

“There are specific issue differences now between her and Heller and I think that makes her a strong candidate,” Ratti said.

Derby announced her candidacy to a crowd of party supporters as University of Nevada, Reno student government representatives stood behind her at the podium.

“Any candidate who reaches out to young voters is a smart candidate,” said Sarah Ragsdale, President of the Associated Students of the University of Nevada, Reno. “I have supported her for a long time.”

Derby was born into a ranching family in Lovelock, Nev. In 1973, Derby married veterinarian Steve Talbot and has two children, Ryan and Tobyn.

She studied anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno and University of California, Davis where she earned her doctorate in 1988. While working as a health educator in Saudi Arabia, she became fluent in Arabic.