Former assemblyman joins race for County Commission

Jeff Schweers

Thursday, March 28, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

A former state assemblyman who lobbied for Nevada's gaming industry has officially announced his bid for the County Commission seat being vacated by Jay Bingham.

Val Garner, 64, today confirmed he is seeking Bingham's District B seat, something he has hinted at since leaving the Legislature in 1994 after eight years in the Assembly.

Bingham, a Democrat, announced in October he would not seek a fourth term after 12 years on the commission.

"I'm not ready to retire," said Garner, also a Democrat. "I'm not ready to go to the rocking chair. I still have something to work for the people of Southern Nevada."

Garner said his experience as an assemblyman and as chairman of the Government Affairs Committee in 1991 and 1993 makes him the best candidate to deal with crime and growth, which he says are the county's top issues.

"It's just a good follow-up to the experience I've had there," Garner said. "I believe I'm the real candidate."

Garner will face North Las Vegas Mayor James Seastrand, 66, and North Las Vegas Councilwoman Mary Kincaid, 57, in the September primary.

Kincaid and Seastrand announced their candidacies three weeks ago, making crime and growth their top issues as well.

"My record will show I've done more than talk about it," Garner said.

During his legislative tenure, Garner helped sponsor more than 30 crime bills, advocated reconfiguration of the Colorado River Commission, promoted government efficiency, and sponsored the state's original class-size reduction bill.

Former North Las Vegas Municipal Judge Gary Davis is the only Republican to date to file for Bingham's seat. Davis was thrown off the bench by the Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission for conduct unbecoming a judge.

But the other candidates have their political obstacles: Kincaid was barely six months into her fourth term when she decided to run for the commission. Seastrand has served for 16 years as mayor of North Las Vegas. Garner voted for a 300 percent legislative pension hike in 1989 while he was vice chairman of the Assembly Government Affairs Committee.

Garner said it was a mistake and later voted with the majority to rescind the increase during a special session.

"I don't make any excuses about it," he said.

Garner also caught some heat for rooming with Nevada Resort Association President Richard Bunker during the last weeks of the 1993 session. Garner later worked for Bunker and Associates, representing the city of Reno and Southern Nevada hotel-casinos during the 1995 session.

Garner has lived in Las Vegas for 34 years. He is a former teacher and educator with the Clark County School District and former assistant director of community education for the Community College of Southern Nevada.