Former prostitute, commissioner face off at convention

Angie Wagner

Friday, April 24, 1998 | 11:16 a.m.

She's a former prostitute facing a tough lieutenant governor race, but Jessi Winchester took on Clark County Commissioner Lorraine Hunt on Friday and was rewarded with loud applause.

Ms. Winchester, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1996, said in her remarks to the state Republican Convention that she had never been involved in a scandal like Clark County Commissioners have.

Ms. Hunt and her fellow commissioners have been accused of ethical lapses in the awarding of McCarran International Airport concession contracts. The complaint against Hunt was dismissed by the state Ethics Commission last month.

"We must get back to putting people first," Ms. Winchester said as her supporters cheered loudly. "What happened to old time politics?"

She said she was raised in Virginia City on simple country values "that have guided my entire life."

Ms. Hunt said the lieutenant governor should be the business leader of the state, and she is up to the challenge.

"I have never been afraid of hard work. I have never backed down from a challenge," she said.

Ms. Hunt also addressed Las Vegas' explosive growth, saying it is a controversial issue.

"Many people do not realize growth is a state's, county's and city's business," she said.

Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren hasn't said whether he will run for re-election, but he is also considering a run for Congress or governor.