Friday, April 10, 1998 | 10:31 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, who said Thursday he would seek a 17th term, wants to hold the top job in the 1999 Legislature.
Dini, 69, said one reason behind his bid for re-election is a need for continued leadership by rural Nevada. Elected in 1966, the senior Assembly member has been speaker a record seven times.
His district includes Lyon and Storey counties and the east part of Carson City.
He said he's been a fair legislator and represented the interests of all Nevadans. Although Clark County holds a majority in the Assembly, members from Southern Nevada have backed Dini who has parceled out committee chairmanships mostly to those who come from the Las Vegas area.
A casino owner, Dini considered a run for governor but then backed out.
Education, he said, will continue to be a top priority with him.
"The Legislature needs to discover new ways to fund much-needed school construction -- raising property taxes is not the solution."
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