Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002 | 8:30 a.m.
Two Republican doctors won convincing victories in Assembly races Tuesday, promising to deliver the first professional medical advice from within the people's house since the medical malpractice crisis hit the state last summer.
Their victories were part of a statewide gain of four Assembly seats by Republicans.
But of three new seats that migrated from Northern to Southern Nevada as part of redistricting, Democrats squeaked out two victories, strengthening the party's only power base on a night dominated by Republican victories.
Within Clark County, the balance of power in the Assembly shifted from 19 Democrats and seven Republicans to 21 Democrats and eight Republicans.
All 17 incumbents, including two Republicans, retained their seats. Democrat Kathy McClain fended off a strong challenge from Republican Lonnie Hammargren. Three Democratic incumbents ran unopposed.
"One of the things physicians try to do is avoid things," said Joe Hardy, a Boulder City Councilman and family physician who won District 20. "In politics sometimes that's interesting, since politics is often crisis-driven."
Hardy took 59 percent of the vote. Democrat Gene Segerblom received 41 percent. Republican Garn Mabey, an obstetrician, won District 2, taking 77 percent of the vote. Independent American Brian Barnes received 23 percent of the vote.
Like Hardy, Mabey said medical issues will be just one of many issues to address in the Legislature.
"But we'll be an aid to the state and to the physicians also," he said. "We still need to work on liability premiums. They're still too high. OBs are still going to continue to leave the state and new ones aren't going to replace them."
Of the three new seats gained through redistricting, Republicans took District 29. Josh Griffin won with 55 percent of the vote to Democrat Stan Dreyfuss' 42 percent and Independent American Justin Ramsaier's 3 percent.
"I think what Republicans established on the campaign trail was energy and openness and a willingness to make tough decisions on budget and taxes," Griffin said.
In the closest southern Assembly race, Democrat Marcus Conklin beat Republican Francis Allen for a new District 37 seat. Conklin took 50.75 percent of the vote to Allen's 49.25.
In District 34, also new to Clark County, Democrat William Horne took 52 percent of the vote to Republican Geny Del Rosario's 48 percent.
Five open seats stayed within their parties.
In District 3, vacated by Democrat John Lee in his unsuccessful run for state controller, Democrat Peggy Pierce fended off a strong challenge by Republican Joe Wheeler. She won 49 percent. Wheeler took 47 percent. American Independent Harold Sims earned 4 percent.
Republican Valerie Weber beat Democratic doctor John Ellerton in District 5, maintaining the seat vacated by Republican Barbara Cegavske in her successful run for state senate. Weber earned 55 percent to Ellerton's 45 percent.
In District 13, vacated by Republican Dennis Nolan in his successful run for state Senate, Republican Chad Christensen beat Democrat Mike Slater, 55 percent to 45 percent.
"Hopefully it just makes things more balanced," Christensen said. "Tonight's elections were all about balancing the equation."
Hardy maintained the seat vacated by Republican Kathy Von Tobel in District 20. And Republican Walter Andonov, who pledged to be a fiscal conservative, kept District 21 in the party, turning back Democrat Lisa Cano 55 percent to 43 percent. American Independent Joshua Hansen earned 2 percent of the vote. The seat was left open by Republican Sandra Tiffany in her successful run for state Senate.
Three new party-bearers who won primary elections by upsetting longtime incumbents continued on to general election victories. Mabey was one of them. He defeated incumbent Republican Merle Berman in the primary.
In District 11, Democrat Bob McCleary won 68 percent of the vote, defeating Republican David Adams, who received 32 percent. McCleary beat six-term incumbent Doug Bache in the primary.
Democrat Kelvin Atkinson won a close race in District 17, winning 52 percent of the vote to Republican Luis Valera's 48 percent. Atkinson defeated 14-term incumbent Bob Price in the primary.
Of 12 Democratic incumbents, most cruised to easy victory. Only McClain's race against former state Republican Party chairman Hammargren was uncomfortably close for the incumbent. McClain took 51.5 percent to Hammargren's 48.5.
In District 1, Democratic incumbent Tom Collins (64 percent) beat Republican Doug Opolka (29 percent) and Independent American Peggie Williams (6 percent).
Democratic incumbent Wendell Williams (70 percent) kept District 6, trouncing Republican Devon Mennenoh (30 percent).
In District 7, Democratic incumbent Morse Arberry (61 percent) beat Republican Joanna Wesley (39 percent).
Democratic incumbent Barbara Buckley (65 percent) won District 8. Her challenger, Republican Kevin Child, took 35 percent.
In District 10, Democratic incumbent David Goldwater (58 percent) beat fellow Democrat Daniel Cook (42 percent).
Democratic incumbent Ellen Koivisto (58 percent) kept District 14, outpointing Republican and convicted felon Richard Gardner (34 percent) and Independent American J. "Buffalo Jim" Barrier (8 percent).
Democratic incumbent John Oceguera (58 percent) won District 16, leaving behind Republican Rich Strickland (42 percent).
In District 18, Democratic incumbent Mark Manendo (65 percent) breezed past Republican Ken Jarvis (35 percent).
Democratic incumbent Jerry Claborn (57 percent) won District 19, defeating Republican Duane Threm (32 percent) and Independent American Warren Stephens (11 percent).
In District 28, Democratic incumbent Vonne Chowning (65 percent) topped Libertarian James Dan (35 percent).
Democratic incumbent David Parks (54 percent) kept District 41, fending off Republican Phillip Dane (38 percent) and Independent American Patricia Saye (8 percent).
Two incumbent Republicans also held seats.
In District 4, Republican Bob Beers (65 percent) sailed past Democrat Howard Bycroft (35 percent).
Republican David Brown (64 percent) held District 22, disposing of Democrat Caren Levenson (33 percent) and Independent American Jesse Harris (3 percent).
Three Democratic incumbents coasted to re-election without challenges -- Democrat Chris Giunchigliani, District 9; Democrat Genie Ohrenschall, District 12; Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, District 23.
Sun reporter Erin Neff contributed to this story.
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