Diverse group running for regent posts

Jace Radke

Thursday, Aug. 27, 1998 | 11:17 a.m.

Three Nevada Board of Regents seats are up for grabs in November's general election. Subdistricts C, F and G will be contested in the nonpartisan race.

The subdistrict C race features seven candidates who are trying to get through the Sept. 1 primary, while subdistrict G has four candidates. Perhaps buoyed by University of Nevada art professor Howard Rosenberg's successful regent bid in the last election, some nontraditional candidates are cropping up.

The races include two professors and a 20-year-old college graduate.

UNLV business professor John Kohl is making a bid for the subdistrict C seat, along with just-graduated Jason Harman, while professor of architecture Arnold Stalk is running for subdistrict G.

Kohl, 55, also serves as chairman of UNLV's business management department, and is a strong supporter of both traditional and nontraditional education. Kohl said he would also like to see greater cooperation between UNLV and the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Harman, 20, completed a bachelor of science degree in marketing at UNLV this month.

"I think that students' concerns are often overlooked and that students need more of a voice on the board," Harman said. "It's funny to see all these people run for regent who really have no perspective about what's happening at the schools because they are not directly involved."

John Ellerton, 49, is a Las Vegas doctor who makes time to be a voluntary member of the teaching staff of the University of Nevada medical school.

"I have been teaching in the medical school for 18 years and, although voluntary, I teach on a full-time basis," Ellerton said. "Serving as a regent requires a commitment of time and energy I'm willing to make."

Ellerton said he has attended the last three board meetings in Fallon, Reno and most recently Elko.

Tom Kirkpatrick, a retired UNLV professor emeritus, said he will work to ensure that education is properly funded and that emphasis be given to all levels of the college system.

Kirkpatrick, 70, said he feels his retired status will give him the time necessary to do the job.

Bill Marchant, a doctor of family therapy, has served as assistant clinical professor at the medical school as well as a professor at UNLV from 1975 to 1991.

Marchant, 56, lists funding equity throughout the university system and resource management as his main issues.

William Shields, 70, a retired U.S. Navy officer, is making another attempt at the regent chair after losing in the last election. Shields, who obtained his master's degree in counseling from UNLV, is concerned about students dropping out of college because of increasing costs.

Roy Woofter, 65, is a judge pro-tem for Las Vegas Justice Court. Woofter said his main concerns are the budget and the community college system.

"The growth of the community college has been incredible, and we need to make sure that we take care of that," Woofter said.

Woofter also supports an athletics program in the community college system.

Subdistrict G will have four candidates listed on the primary ballot, including Stalk.

When not teaching, Stalk develops affordable housing in the Las Vegas area. Stalk, 44, said he wants to try to attract more high school students to the universities and community colleges.

Another of Stalk's goals is to make higher education more accessible for the learning disabled, economically disadvantaged and senior adults living on fixed income.

Steve Sisolak, 44, is a 22-year Las Vegas resident who has served on the board of directors of both the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association.

"One of the things I want to accomplish is to make our university and college system a more integral part of our community," Sisolak said. "I received my master's degree from UNLV, and I know there are numerous resources that can be better utilized to help all of Las Vegas, not just the students that attend classes."

Ed Gobel is a Vietnam veteran who has served as a national director of Veterans in Politics and vice president of the Council of Nevada Veterans Organizations.

Gobel, 48, wants to see more accountability in education and make sure that the public university system serves the public.

Sherry Colquitt, a Las Vegas resident, could not be reached for comment about her campaign.

Also running in District 2, Subdistrict F are Doug Seastrand, Christopher Kindred and Kevin Dietz. The top two vote getters will face each other on November 3.