L.E. Baskow

Congressman-elect Cresent Hardy thanks supporters as Republicans gather to celebrate election victories, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, at Red RockResort.

By Amber Phillips (contact)

Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 | 1:37 p.m.

Washington

Seated in the posh lobby of the Capitol Hill Hotel just blocks away from the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Cresent Hardy was tired, but excited.

Nevada's newest member of Congress was in the middle of a whirlwind seven days of orientation, learning what it takes to be a federal lawmaker. He'd collected stacks of paper listing guidelines for ethics, rules for overseas trips and strict security procedures for his office computers. He needs to hire staff for his tiny, fourth-floor congressional office and is collecting resumes for his team back in Nevada.

But above all else, Hardy is focused on how he can use his blend of Tea Party conservatism and pragmatic libertarianism to lift government's burden on Nevadans.

"On conservative measures, you won't find anybody more conservative than I am," said Hardy, a former Assemblyman who won a surprise election Nov. 4 to represent central Nevada and North Las Vegas. "I'm about as far right as you can get on the issues."

"But I'm a realist," he added, explaining he'll work with whoever shares his views.

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Newly elected Cresent Hardy on his Tea Party conservatism, pragmatic libertarianism