District C race pits veteran and novice in hard-fought race

Jeff Schweers

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The lead ram in a herd of bighorns never goes quietly when challenged.

And so it is with County Commissioner Paul Christensen, the entrenched king of the hill fighting off the untested challenger, Lance Malone.

The race for the seat in District C, which includes northwest Las Vegas, is a classic battle of youth against experience: the energetic and idealistic political novice against the well-connected power broker.

But it's also a battle over the future of Clark County as it heads into the 21st century -- especially as it faces pressing growth-related problems like traffic, water and the gap between city and county tax rates.

"I think people are looking for someone who's not a career politician," says Malone, a Republican. "When you're in one position for a length of time, some politicians can become stagnant."

Christensen, the three-term Democratic incumbent, wants to spend the next four years helping shape Clark County's future, and then step down.

"This is my last term," Christensen says. "I'd like to see the completion of the beltway and stay on the convention authority until I get somebody on the board who can fill in."

It's already been a tough battle for Christensen, 64, who depleted most of his campaign war chest fighting off a high-pitched attack from 31-year-old Brooks Compton in the Democratic primary. Christensen has had little time to regroup and raise the money needed to lock horns with Malone, 34, in the Nov. 5 general election.

Christensen had raised $485,000 through the primary and was left with about $100,000, while Malone spent nearly all the $70,000 he raised for his primary race. Both are depending on large infusions of gaming money -- Christensen has budgeted about $200,000, and Malone has commitments of at least $150,000 -- to get them through the final weeks of the race.

Libertarian Party candidate Jeff Rousseau is also running. The 32-year-old married tractor-trailer driver for Clark County Public Works has lived in Las Vegas 30 years and wants to be elected so he can make the county operate more efficiently and save money.

"I see lot of places where money can be saved and things changed," Rousseau said. "My department alone could save money."

Rousseau said the county also needs to change its approach to growth.

"Las Vegas is trying to catch up because it waited too long," he said. "I'd like to try to get ahead of the growth."

Christensen has been distracted by a barrage of ethics charges filed against him. He has hired a lawyer to defend against alleged nepotism and misuse of office as chairman of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

"I've got one hand running the campaign, the other hand chasing off the wolves at my side," says Christensen. "I'm suffering under the residue from the Compton campaign and still getting calls about the Ethics Commission."

The Ethics Commission recently cleared Christensen of those charges.

Despite that, it doesn't help Christensen that Las Vegas officials have kept traffic and tax problems of northwest city residents in the public eye. Finding a solution to those problems would certainly help Christensen, since 95 percent of his constituents are city residents.

Christensen believes his experience on the issues is his strongest selling point, and Malone's weakest. After 23 years in elected office, Christensen says, "I've got history on these issues. Malone has no history."

Capitalizing on Malone's inexperience, Christensen says if he's not re-elected, only one other commissioner will have been on the board more than four years -- Bruce Woodbury. And the new kid on the block has a lot of catching up to do.

"The new guy has less chance getting anything on than the others," Christensen says. "The new county commissioner will take two years to learn where the men's room is, then fight like hell to get proper representation for his areas."

But Malone, a Metro cop for the last four years, says Christensen has had plenty of time to show his stuff, and hasn't done enough. Malone is counting on people's desire for change, especially in the key Sun City neighborhood, where some 8,000 senior citizens have rebelled against higher taxes and property assessments.

"When Paul started, he was a jeweler. I'm starting as a police officer," Malone says. "Thank goodness we live in a country that allows citizens to get involved when they become concerned and want to make a difference."

Just as Christensen is eager to point out Malone's lack of political experience, Malone is trying to play against Christensen's length of public service, painting him as part of the good-old-boy system.

Malone talks about solving infrastructure problems, reducing crime and slowing growth, but his specifics are sketchy.

Christensen says it takes time to develop the connections and friendships to get things done, but he also thinks the county has done as much as it can to control growth and should focus on accommodating the needs that go with it.

"There's nothing wrong with power as long as you don't abuse it," Christensen said. "It's hard for a new person still learning the ropes to get things done he thinks needs doing for his district if doesn't know the ropes."

Malone says Christensen has little to show for his district after 23 years in office, 12 as a commissioner and 11 as city councilman.

"Paul seems to think since it's in the city it's a city problem," Malone says. "The difference between Paul and me is that Paul always says 'We can't do this' or 'That's not my responsibility."'

Christensen bristles at the suggestion he's ignored his constituents or made excuses instead of finding solutions for the district's growing traffic problems and the higher tax rate city residents pay compared to county residents.

"They want me to do something because I'm up for election and it's a city issue," Christensen said. "They're hurting me now because they're blaming me for everything wrong with the city. They're saying the county is cheating them. I'm the county. I'm the biggest district and have the most city residents. I'm the biggest target."