Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Voters narrow candidate field in education races

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Clark County School Board members Carolyn Edwards, left, and Erin Cranor talk after a speech by Washington, D.C. schools chancellor Kaya Henderson Thursday, March 20, 2014.

While most primary races were decided early Tuesday evening, many education races remained competitive well into the night.

In a state with some of the lowest education rankings nationally, few voters turned out to cast their ballot for the leaders of their local schools, colleges and universities. Just 14 percent of the 775,950 registered voters in Clark County went to the polls this primary season.

Clark County School Board members oversee the nation’s fifth-largest school system, along with its $2.2 billion general fund budget. Regents oversee the Silver State’s seven institutions of higher education, including the College of Southern Nevada, Desert Research Institute, Nevada State College and UNLV located in Clark County.

Here’s how the education races turned out. The top two vote-getters in the primary advance to the general election.

School Board District D

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Stavan Corbett, left, president of the State Board of Education, speaks with Fernando Romero, regional field coordinator for the National Council of La Raza,during the English Mastery for Nevada's Prosperity education forum at the Stan Fulton Building on UNLV campus Thursday, June 21, 2012.

Incumbent Stavan Corbett held off three challengers to advance to the November election with 36 percent of the vote.

With 74 percent of precincts reporting, the former state board of education president came in first place, ahead of real estate agent Kevin Child (27 percent) and UNLV student Wesley Cornwell (21 percent).

Corbett, who was appointed to the School Board this past year, will face off against Child this fall to represent the heavily Hispanic district.

School Board District F

Incumbent Carolyn Edwards sailed to an easy victory, advancing to the general election with more than 50 percent of the vote.

With 61 percent of precincts reporting, the former state and local school board president had won 55 percent of the vote. Edwards, who faced an ethics complaint last year, vaulted above her two challengers with strong early voting results.

Ralph Krauss, a fourth-grade teacher, came in second with 32 percent of the vote. Edwards and Krauss will face each other in the November election.

School Board District G

Incumbent Erin Cranor narrowly edged out two competitors to land a spot on the November ballot.

The School Board president held her slight lead from early ballots through the evening. With 78 percent of precincts reporting, Cranor received 40 percent of the vote.

In November, Cranor will face Joe Spencer, a citizen who filed multiple ethics complaints against School Board members including Cranor. Spencer received 35 percent of the vote.

Regent District 3

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Nevada System of Higher Education regent Kevin Page reacts to a response on Thursday, May 1, 2014.

Kevin Page cruised to an easy victory, advancing to the general election with more than 40 percent of the vote.

With 71 percent of precincts reporting, the investment banker received 43 percent of the vote.

Page will face UNLV professor Tom Hurst, who narrowly held off his fellow faculty member Bryan Spangelo, 25 to 21 percent.

Regent District 2 and Regent District 5

Both of these regents races had just two candidates, meaning they went straight from the primary to the general election.

In District 2, incumbent Robert Blakely will battle it out with challenger Trevor Hayes, a former newspaper reporter-turned-lawyer.

In District 5, Nicola Spirtos, who recently received a license to operate a marijuana dispensary, will face former state Democratic Party Chairman Sam Lieberman to replace Jack Schofield, a longtime regent and Las Vegas community leader who is term-limited out.

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