Ensign faces Stephens before taking on Reid

Thursday, Aug. 27, 1998 | 11:12 a.m.

National political observers expect a hotly contested battle in the attempt by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., to retain his seat this fall against Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev.

Because Reid has no Democratic opponent in the Sept. 1 state primary, the two-term senator will get a free ride to the November general election. Ensign, however, must get past fellow Republican Dr. Ralph W. Stephens of Reno before facing Reid for the six-year seat.

Stephens is so lightly regarded, however, that Ensign is treating the primary as a speed bump. The 40-year-old Ensign, who is completing his second term representing the Las Vegas Valley, was swept into Congress as part of the 1994 House GOP tidal wave that was identified by its "Contract with America." The 10-point agenda pledged tax cuts, congressional term limits and a balanced federal budget.

Ensign, who favors elimination of the federal tax code, wants to reverse what he calls the Internal Revenue Service's "guilty until proven innocent" approach. The congressman also has fought against proposals to transport high-level nuclear waste to Nevada and was credited by Time magazine with playing a "breakthrough" role in welfare reform.

He wants 95 percent of all federal election dollars to be spent in the classroom, and believes that bad teachers ought to be fired. The congressman has introduced a bill to require prisoners to work at least 50 hours per week and pay restitution to their victims. He also introduced a bill that provides for emergency health care coverage if such services are sought in good faith.

Before going to Congress, Ensign earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine, served as general manager of the Gold Strike and Nevada Landing hotel-casinos in Southern Nevada, and owned the first 24-hour animal hospital in Las Vegas. His father Mike Ensign is a top executive at Circus Circus Enterprises Inc.

Democrats have labeled the congressman a far-right wing demagog and have tried to tie him to House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., because of the latter's low approval ratings. Ensign has attempted to distance himself from Gingrich and has defended his own philosophy as a supporter of strong family values.

Stephens, a 64-year-old ophthalmologist, supports affordable health care and the freedom to choose one's own doctor. A self-described political centrist, Stephens said he would fight over-taxation and attempts to subordinate national security to foreign interests.

He also disapproves of efforts to restrict free speech because of political correctness and abhors federal policies that he believes have institutionalized poverty. Stephens also vows to fight for local control of schools.

Others who will join Reid and the Republican winner in the general election are Libertarian Michael Cloud and Natural Law candidate Michael E. Williams, both of Las Vegas.