Registration figures predict a a dogfight

If voter registration numbers are any indication, President Clinton and Republican challenger Bob Dole are in for a Nevada shootout.

The figures also indicate that Republicans during the 1997 Legislature could hold a 12-9 lead in the state Senate, while Democrats might control the Assembly 23-19. Republicans held a 13-8 advantage in the Senate last session, while each party controlled 21 seats in the Assembly.

Through June 30, Republicans held a 5,512 statewide registration lead over Democrats, according to the secretary of state's office.

At the end of May, Republicans had led by 6,323 voters.

According to the June figures, Nevada has 304,289 registered Republicans and 298,777 Democrats.

Clinton won in Nevada in 1992, becoming the first Democrat since Lyndon Johnson in 1964 to carry the state.

The secretary of state's report also showed Republicans have a voter edge in 12 state Senate districts and Democrats in nine. In Clark County, Democrats hold a majority in nine districts and Republicans in four.

Statewide, Democrats have more registered voters in 23 Assembly districts, while Republicans are ahead in 19. In Clark County, Democrats lead in 18 Assembly districts and Republicans in seven.

In the 1st Congressional District, Democrats outnumber Republicans 129,461 to 99,463, or by 29,998 voters, down from about 32,000 a month ago.

In that district, which includes urban parts of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson, Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., is facing a re-election challenge from four Democrats, including state Sen. Bob Coffin.

In the 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses the remainder of Nevada and 31 percent of Clark County, Republicans lead 204,826 to 169,316, or by 35,510 voters.

Ten candidates are vying in that district to succeed retiring Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, R-Nev.

Parties formed

Two new political parties -- Ross Perot's Reform Party and Ralph Nader's Green Party -- formally qualified Wednesday to place presidential candidates on Nevada's Nov. 5 presidential ballot.

Both parties were required to submit petitions with signatures from 3,761 voters, or 1 percent of those who voted in Nevada's two 1994 congressional elections.

The Reform Party collected 5,042 valid signatures, while the Green Party gathered 3,992.

The Reform Party has qualified in 25 states, including Nevada. Nader's Green Party, which advocates environmental and consumer protection, is on the ballot in 10 states.

At back-to-back conventions next month, the Reform Party will choose between Perot and former Colorado Gov. Richard Lamm.

The Libertarian, Natural Law and Independent American parties also will be represented on the Nevada ballot.

PAC money

The field in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District race is PACed, but one candidate stands out from the rest.

And it's not Patty Cafferata.

Cafferata, vying to succeed her mother, retiring Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, made a premature claim when she boasted in a news release that she has raised more money from political action committees than any Republican.

Most candidates don't draw attention to PAC contributions because many voters are upset about the influence PACs wield.

Through midweek, Cafferata had raised $16,000 from PACs. She said that amount put her ahead of the six other Republican candidates.

However, another candidate, former Assemblyman Jim Gibbons, has raised about $23,000 from PACs, said Mike Dayton, Gibbons' campaign manager.

Fast track

Nevada Supreme Court Justice Cliff Young defended the court's "fast track" program for criminal cases in a speech Wednesday at a Southern Nevada Women Lawyers Club luncheon.

The high court Monday approved a plan to speed up court review of all criminal cases other than those involving capital punishment or life sentences. The plan takes effect Sept. 1.

In an attempt to relieve the court of its heavy caseload, Young said criminal cases under the plan will be screened to determine whether they should be argued.

"This program would make it possible for many cases to be decided in one-fifth of the time now being required, and (is) an important step to controlling a growing backlog," Young said.

Young, who is seeking re-election this year, also said at the luncheon that the court will ask the 1997 Legislature for two additional Supreme Court justices and an intermediate appellate court.

Justice Charles Springer earlier this month criticized the fast-track plan, which was drawn up by a committee chaired by Young. Springer argued that the plan would involve only 10 percent of the criminal appeals, not the 70 percent Young predicted.

Davis fights ouster

A recent story in Campaign Notebook incorrectly reported that former North Las Vegas Municipal Judge Gary Davis, ousted for alleged ethical lapses, has abandoned his fight to retain the judgeship.

Davis was removed from office in December after an investigation by the Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission.

He has appealed the decision and is set to appear Sept. 10 before the Nevada Supreme Court.

Davis, who is a candidate for Clark County Commission District B, said he will accept the judgeship if he is reinstated.

Republicans debate

Three top Republican candidates in the 2nd Congressional District race have agreed to take part in a one-hour television debate Aug. 2 on KLVX Channel 10, the Las Vegas public television station.

Station officials said Gibbons, Cafferata and former Secretary of State Cheryl Lau have signed on for the debate. Efforts are being made to encourage four other Republican candidates to appear. They are Bob Edwards, Pat McMillan, Hilary Michael Milko and Mike Schaefer.

The live debate, which begins at 8 p.m., also will be broadcast on public television in Reno.

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