Del Papa, Scherer trade attacks in televised debate

CARSON CITY -- Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa said her GOP opponent, Scott Scherer, is being dishonest when he accuses her office of not taking quick action to save millions of dollars for investors lost in the failed Harley Harmon investment venture in Las Vegas.

Scherer said Del Papa has been misstating his record that he won't fight to stop elder abuse and domestic violence.

And Joel Hansen, the Independent American party candidate, says Del Papa dropped the ball when her office failed to void concession contracts at McCarran International Airport after two Clark County commissioners were found in conflict of interest in the awarding of the contracts.

The three debated Friday night on public television, shown both in Las Vegas and Reno. The other candidate Kent Cromwell, a Libertarian, was not present.

Del Papa said it was not possible to void airport contracts, because they were not government contracts.

Scherer, a former two-term Assemblyman from Las Vegas, said he has the endorsement of every law enforcement group in the state. "They have lost confidence in you," Scherer told Del Papa.

Del Papa replied Clark County District Attorney Stewart Bell backs her and many police officers have told her individually they are supporting her for the job of top law enforcement officer in Nevada. "I've worked long and hard with law enforcement" and she added, "I've ruffled some feathers with tough decisions."

If elected, Scherer said he would give "a much higher priority" to handling of death penalty cases. There are more than 85 inmates on death row with some of their cases dating back to the late 1970s. On a bill to tighten the death penalty law, Scherer said Del Papa failed to make a personal appearance in the Legislature and the bill died in committee. He said he would have made a public statement in an effort to shake the bill loose from the committee.

Del Papa said it is "dishonest" to say she has not been at the forefront in reforming death penalty laws, such as the new federal law that limits appeals. The bottleneck in getting death row appeals processed is in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, she said. "I've been there for the victims. I've talked to them."

Hansen, a Las Vegas attorney, said there needs to be a reform in the habeas corpus laws surrounding death penalty cases.

Del Papa said there's a "clear distinction" between the candidates because she is the only one "pro choice" on abortion. Scherer said he was "pro life" but would uphold the laws of Nevada on the issue. Hansen favored efforts to stop partial-birth abortions.

Del Papa said her office in her eight years has focused on "core issues" such as protecting the elderly, consumers and children. She suggested Scherer has said that handling domestic violence and elder abuse cases is not a good idea. Scherer denied he had ever made such a statement.

But he said the issues of teen pregnancy and adult literacy, which Del Papa is involved in, are "better handled by other agencies." He said she was "squandering tax dollars."

Scherer said Del Papa's excuse when she fails is to blame somebody else. When her office did not act quickly in the Harmon investment case, she said it was not her fault. With the high turnover of employees in her office, Del Papa blames the Legislature. And when a motion on a death penalty case was late being filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, Del Papa blamed the state mail room.

All three agreed on the need to fight against a nuclear dump at Yucca Mountain. But Scherer and Hansen were critical of Del Papa for joining with the federal government in some other public lands suits.

Del Papa argued she was the best qualified to lead what amounts to one of the biggest law offices in the state, given her eight years' experience. Scherer said Del Papa has "talked about the problems for eight years. I will get results." Hansen, who calls himself "Bulldog," said he had more experience in the courtroom than either of the other two, with 20 years in private practice.

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