Nine republicans aim for Ensign’s vacant seat

Jace Radke

Thursday, Aug. 27, 1998 | 11:13 a.m.

Republican Rep. John Ensign's decision to challenge Democratic Sen. Harry Reid has left one of Nevada's two House seats open, and nine Republicans have lined up to take a shot at it.

Before a Republican can claim the seat he or she will have to win the Sept. 1 primary, and then most likely have to overcome Democratic front-runner Shelley Berkley in the Nov. 3 general election.

Berkley, 47, is completing an eight-year stint as a member of the University and Community College System of Nevada Board of Regents, and is serving as a consultant to a developing telecommunication business in Nevada.

Improving educational standards, strengthening Social Security and making sure that Nevada receives its fair share of transportation and water resources are all important, Berkley said.

"I'm not a stranger to this community and I know the issues that Nevadans care about," Berkley said. "I have a record of community involvement and public service in Las Vegas that spans three decades. I've been a professional in this community and I've also served it as a past president at Channel 10 (PBS) and as a regent."

Berkley's opposition in the primary comes from Clay Baty, a 50-year-old hotel-casino employee who is running on a platform supporting states' rights and touting himself as a politician that is not part of a "good ol' boys' network."

"I believe a lot of people are getting tired of the let's-make-a-deal mentality in politics," Baty said. "I believe in doing what the people want as an elected official."

A Republican candidate will have to overcome two hurdles to defeat Berkley, but they are hurdles that have been cleared in the past.

First, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 37,000 in the district that covers Las Vegas and Henderson. Second, Berkley has reportedly raised $557,278 in campaign funds, greatly outdistancing the next closest candidate, Republican Esther Quisenberry, who reported $63,605 as of Aug. 3.

Quisenberry, a Prime Cable advertising executive, said she believes Berkley's advantages are not that imposing.

"A Republican can win this seat," Quisenberry said. "Don't forget that a Republican held this district last term, and that the most money doesn't necessarily win.

"When it gets down to voting, this district turns out to be more fiscally conservative than liberal, and once people see who the candidates are and where they are on the issues I think that the choice will be clear."

Quisenberry, 33, is a states' rights advocate who favors zero-tolerance legislation on crime and drugs. In many instances the proper legislation is in place and those laws need to be enforced, Quisenberry said.

Like Quisenberry, Republican candidate Robert Tauber believes that Berkley can be overcome in the general election.

Tauber, a management consultant and government waste expert formerly with the Department of Defense, also feels that nine Republican candidates can only help his prospects.

"This is the best type of race I could want," Tauber said. "There are only expected to be about 40,000 registered Republican voters on election day and that means whichever candidate can go out and get 10,000 votes has a good chance at winning.

"We've visited more than 5,000 homes in our grass-roots campaign and that easily represents more than 10,000 votes."

Tauber, 40, favors the elimination of the Internal Revenue Service, and the institution of a national retail sales tax. At the same time, Tauber said that he would pass laws that would reduce the overall budget of the federal government, and privatize Social Security and Medicare.

Republican candidate Don Chairez, a former District Court judge, filed his candidacy 15 minutes before the deadline. He had to make a decision on whether to remain on the bench and preside over the highly publicized Jeremy Strohmeyer murder case, or run for Congress.

"I had to choose between a big murder case and running," Chairez said. "The thing that made up my mind is that on the bench you have to uphold laws that you may not agree with, but in Congress you can be a part of making those laws."

Chairez said he considers himself a populist, and that the biggest issue of the campaign to the voters is integrity. He emphasizes his slogan of "fairness not favors."

Nancy Price, a Board of Regents member since 1992, knows what it is like to be in a major campaign because of her experience as a regent and assemblywoman as well as being involved in the campaign of her husband, Assemblyman Bob Price, D-North Las Vegas.

Price, 56, said her 20 years of military experience will be an advantage in Congress.

"The military knows what to do in times of war, but right now the country is at peace and issues like recruitment, retention, new technologies and weapons development need to be addressed," Price said.

Ken Sondej, a 56-year-old casino worker, has been a Las Vegas resident for 27 years.

Sondej, who says he has held just about every job a casino has to offer, is focused on strengthening Social Security and improving education. He has pledged to vote the wishes of the people, if elected.

James Blockey, a teacher, is the local founder and president of the Southern Nevada Chapter of Christian Educators Association. He started a petition drive against the National Education Association, which resulted in the Christian Educators Association starting a Nevada chapter.

Blockey, 43, is concerned with protecting Nevada's senior citizens and allowing them to work without penalty. He also points to the quality and direction of education as well as protecting property rights as important issues.

Sam Cavnar, a retired businessman, first ran for Congress in 1978. The 72-year-old has decided to make another bid for office on the advice of friends and supporters.

Cavnar, a veteran, wants to maintain a strong national defense while concentrating on helping the state's senior citizens and veterans. Cavnar has said that if elected he will donate 25 percent of his yearly salary to be dispersed to veterans' groups in Nevada.

Former presidential candidate Sir Hilary Milko also has thrown his hat into the race. The 41-year-old said earlier this year that he will use the Congressional race as a warm-up for another shot at the presidency in 2000.

Richard Gardner, a retired management consultant, is a states' rights advocate who wants to end unconstitutional intrusion on sovereign states and their citizens.

Gardner, 59, has been a participant and instructor at the Freeman Institute on Constitutional Studies.

Independent candidates Steven Strehlow and Jess Howe and Libertarian candidate Jim Burns will join the two primary winners on the Nov. 3 ballot.