Guinn, Jones clash over TV ads, stands in final governor's debate

RENO, Nev. - Unlike their rough-and-tumble television ads, Republican Kenny Guinn and Democrat Jan Jones were polite and civil during their final gubernatorial debate Friday night.

Although they clashed over the content of the ads and their stands on charter schools and several other issues, the two embraced each other and exchanged pleasantries before and after the debate.

"She's been a lady and I've been a gentleman," Guinn said after the debate taped at the studios of KNPB-TV in Reno and televised statewide later Friday night. Their three previous debates also were civil.

The debate was held the same day a new statewide poll showed the race between the two is a statistical dead heat. Guinn has 47 percent and Jones 44 percent, with another 5 percent undecided, according to the poll by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and KTNV-TV, Channel 13.

While they agreed more often than not on the issues, Guinn and Jones criticized each other's TV ads, claiming they distorted their records.

Guinn took issue with a Jones ad that says he ignored the needs of senior citizens by supporting seven natural gas rate increases while head of Southwest Gas Corp. from 1982 to 1996.

The ad fails to mention that there also were rate decreases, Guinn said.

While he was chief, he said, there was a net rate decrease of $16 in northern Nevada and a net increase of only $3 in southern Nevada.

But Jones defended the ad, saying the seven rate increases are an undisputed fact.

"It's fair to come up with issues that affect people, particularly those living on fixed incomes," she said.

For her part, Jones attacked a Guinn ad that says she has pushed sizable property tax increases as Las Vegas mayor.

During her tenure, Jones said, the city's property tax rate has stayed below the state's legal limit and Las Vegans got a 9 percent tax rebate.

She also said Guinn has spearheaded drives for a number of tax hikes for schools, and fire and police departments.

Guinn defended his support of the increases, saying they were badly needed and required a vote of the public.

Guinn and Jones also clashed over a law passed by the 1997 Legislature that allows a limited number of charter schools, touted by proponents as a way to raise student achievement. Charter schools would be independent of local school boards.

Jones said she supports the current law, while Guinn said he thinks it should be expanded.

"(It) should be made more user friendly for those trying to set up charter schools," Guinn said.

Guinn also said he would not rule out support of school vouchers, a plan that would allow parents to use taxpayer dollars to send their children to private schools.

But Jones said she opposes the vouchers. "I believe in public education. That's what I'd focus on," she said.

On other issues, Guinn and Jones:

- Reaffirmed their support for abortion rights, but split on the need for a law requiring anti-abortion protesters to stay at least 15 feet away from abortion clinic doorways. Jones said the law is badly needed, but Guinn didn't immediately support it.

- Disagreed over the need for a state czar to attack the state's high school dropout problem. Jones supports the new position, while Guinn opposes it.

- Clashed over Nevada's right-to-work law, which prohibits a company and a union from signing a contract that would require the affected workers to be union members. Guinn supports the law, while Jones opposes it.

In his closing remarks, Guinn said he has the business experience to make the tough decisions he would face as governor.

"I'm dedicated to public service ... My word is my bond," he said.

Jones also touted her business background, but said running the state means taking care of people's needs.

"Kenny Guinn is a decent man, but I'm the only one with a record of standing up for the people," she said.

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