GOP sees slim chance of taking control of Nevada Assembly

CARSON CITY -- Republicans believe they have a chance, albeit an outside one, to gain control of the Nevada Assembly for the first time in 15 years.

The GOP held only 14 of 42 seats in the lower legislative house in 1999 and would need to gain eight members to hold a majority of 22.

That's a lofty goal, Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Minden, said. "It's not impossible, but I wouldn't bet my house on it."

But GOP officials are counting on two intangibles: a large turnout to support GOP presidential nominee George W. Bush and Senate candidate John Ensign, and conservatives flocking to the polls to cast their ballots for the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages.

Lots of Republicans were not thrilled four years ago by the presidential candidacy of Sen. Bob Dole, Hettrick said. "This time we have a chance." In addition, the opportunity of capturing the Senate seat is expected to draw Republican voters, he said.

Backers of the anti-gay marriage petition have their own get-out-the-vote program, which, Hettrick said, "will bring out a lot of conservatives to the polls."

Democrats are confident they will continue in the majority. "We've got a good bunch of returning incumbents. I don't see any weak spots," Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, said.

"We should come close to the 28 we had last time," he said, referring to the Democrats' 28-14 majority in the 1999 Legislature.

Twenty-two Democratic incumbents are on the ballot, and four are unopposed. Of the 42 Assembly districts, Democrats have a voter registration edge in 23.

Hettrick points out two vacant seats were held by Democrats. Assemblywoman Jan Evans of Sparks died after the last Legislature, and Kelly Thomas of Las Vegas decided not to run for re-election to a second term.

Democrat John Oceguera and Republican Jack McClary are running for Thomas' District 16 seat, and Republican Keith Primus and Democrat Debbie Smith are vying for Evans' District 30 spot.

Still, Hettrick realizes Republicans have a disadvantage in the way the districts are laid out. "Last time, we got 53 percent of the (total) vote but only 33 percent of the seats because of the way the districts are laid out," he said.

Dini said the emergence of Vice President Al Gore and Senate candidate Ed Bernstein in Nevada polls will help Democrats. And there are strong get-out-the vote efforts in Clark and Washoe counties for the Democrats.

If the Democrats again command control in the Assembly, their troubles may not be over. Dini, who has been speaker eight times, is being challenged by his one-time protege Assemblyman Richard Perkins of Henderson, which could touch off a party struggle. Clark County has not held the speakership in the Assembly since 1983.

Perkins first has to win re-election in District 23 for his fifth term. He is challenged by Republican Michael Cannon.

One of the Democratic incumbent races to watch is Assembly District 9, where there is a rematch of the 1998 election.

Democrat Chris Giunchigliani is after a sixth term. Her Republican opponent is Mark Scarborough, who owns a software consulting firm. Giunchigliani, a schoolteacher, was successful last time in promoting campaign finance reform and ethics legislation. Scarborough wants to create accountability in Nevada schools and to transfer money from the administrative side into classrooms.

Also worth watching is Assembly District 27, where Democrat Kathy McClain, seeking a second term, is challenged by Republican Jack Close, who is trying to make a political comeback. He served in the Assembly but lost the seat when he decided to run for the Senate and was defeated two years ago. Also in the race is Independent American candidate is Peter Walker.

Three seats are guaranteed to Democrats, and in 13 other Clark County races, strong Democratic incumbents are on the ballot.

Running unopposed in Clark County are Democrat Harry Mortenson in District 42 and Democrat Mark Manendo in District 18, both seeking a third term from Las Vegas.

Democrat Wendell Williams is challenged by another Democrat, Harvey Munford, in his quest for an eighth term in District 6. No Republican or other party candidate filed.

Democratic incumbents running for re-election include Tom Collins of North Las Vegas, who is seeking a fourth term in District 1 against Republican Ed Gobel; John Lee, seeking a third term against Republican Kefty Eaton in District 3; Morse Arberry Jr. running for a ninth term in District 7 against Republican Chester Richardson; Barbara Buckley, campaigning for a third term against Republican Kevin Child in District 8; and David Goldwater seeking his fourth term against Republican James Henry and Libertarian Lewis Whitten in District 10.

Other Democrats vying to hold onto their positions are Douglas Bache, going for a sixth term against Republican Michael Wisner in District 11; Genie Ohrenschall seeking a fourth term in District 12 challenged by Republican Geny Del Rosario and Citizens First candidate Wanda McClenaghan; Ellen Koivisto running for a third term in District 14 against Republican Mike Davis; Bob Price, one of the senior members of the Legislature, serving in District 17 since 1974, challenged by Republican Terry Holtz; and Jerry Claborn seeking a second term in District 19 against Republican Gary Horrocks.

Three other Democratic incumbents in the race to remain in the Assembly are Gene Segerblom of District 22, who is challenged by Republican David Brown and Citizens First Thomas (Tommy) Thompson; Vonne Chowning of District 28, opposed by Libertarian James Dan; and David Parks of District 37, who faces Republican Phillip Dane.

Six Clark County Republican incumbents are seeking to keep their posts in the Assembly, three of whom do not have Democratic opponents.

Republican Merle Berman is seeking a third term in District 2 against Harold Sims of the Citizens First Party; and Republican Bob Beers is going for a second term in District 4, opposed by Rollo Miller of the Citizens First Party; and Dennis Nolan, seeking his fourth term in District 13, faces fellow Republican Bryon Goynes and Independent American Jonathan Hansen.

Republican Barbara Cegavske is seeking a third term in District 6, and faces Democrat Kristen Hansen. In District 20, Republican Kathy Von Tobel, a student at UNLV, goes for a third term against Democrat Bradley Smith. And District 21 Republican Sandra Tiffany, who is leading a drive to split the Clark County School District, is after a fifth term, facing Democrat Larry Bettis.

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