Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004 | 1:57 a.m.
Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., has fended off some tough challengers in her three terms in office, but political watchers say her re-election bid this year might be her easiest one.
She faces no well-funded backers, yet has managed to bank nearly $1.1 million. Still, she has to get past two challenging her from her party in the primary in the heavily Democratic district.
Three Republicans will compete in the GOP primary. The Republican and Democratic winners will also face Libertarian radio show host Jim Duensing in the Nov. 2 general election.
Democratic candidates on Sept. 7 include:
Berkley, 53, a former lawyer who has represented the 1st Congressional District for three terms.
Berkley said she stands up for fiscal policies to help working families while expanding and creating new jobs.
Her campaign priorities include: improving access to affordable health care, including supporting medical research and promoting preventative health care; raising the minimum wage and protecting overtime; and improving health care and benefits for veterans and seniors.
She also wants to provide more money for front-line emergency personnel and to protect the nation's transportation systems; create a plan for energy independence; extend benefits for the unemployed; and provide tax relief to families and small businesses.
"I seek re-election because I am the fighter Southern Nevada needs in Congress, so that our small but fastest-growing state may secure its fair share of resources for transportation, infrastructure, education, seniors, veterans and other growth-related needs," Berkley said. "My steadfast opposition to Yucca Mountain has delayed the project, and I am certain we will be able to keep nuclear waste out of Nevada."
Brian Kral, 48, an instructor at Community College of Southern Nevada and a professional playwright.
Kral said he would reduce federal testing in schools and work for a complete reform of the No Child Left Behind Act.
He said he is committed to bringing "an orderly close" to the war in Iraq.
"I believe that a continued U.S. military presence in Iraq is detrimental to our national security, the U.S. economy and to the future peace of the Iraqi people," he said.
Ann Reynolds, 55, a bookkeeper.
Reynolds supports outspoken economist and political candidate Lyndon LaRouche and writes in her Web site that she would work to stop the war in Iraq and start the economy.
Water management, not Yucca Mountain, is the most pressing issue in the state, she writes.
"The nuclear industry, when regulated under reasonable conditions, has a much better health record, and wage scale, than does the casino industry," she writes.
Republican candidates include:
Francisco E. Tamez, 50, a chemical technician, singer and Little League umpire.
Tamez writes in his Web site that Congress committed to fighting terrorists after the United States was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.
Yet, he wrote, "many politicians, primarily Democrats, seem to view our anti-terrorism actions as if Sept. 11 never happened. They insist on focusing on apparent failures or disappointments rather than on the obvious successes."
Tamez acknowledged that his district is mostly Democratic, but said he hopes to capture "security-minded" Democrats.
Lewis A. Byer, age and occupation unknown. Byer did not return a questionnaire or phone calls from the Sun seeking information about his candidacy.
Russ Mickelson, who declined to provide his age on his campaign questionnaire, citing the recommendation of identity theft experts; he's lived in Las Vegas since 1977.
A retired 28-year Air Force officer, Mickelson did not provide his campaign platform in his questionnaire.
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