State trooper running for county commission

Jeff Schweers

Friday, May 1, 1998 | 9:57 a.m.

Longtime Nevada State Trooper Steve Harney said he is running for the Clark County Commission District to help unite the fractured board and help restore its eroding public trust.

"The commission is as splintered as it has ever been," the 24-year highway patrol veteran and Republican candidate said today. "As a result, Clark County government is at its lowest level of trust I've ever seen."

The District F seat is currently held by one-term incumbent Erin Kenny, a Democrat elected in 1994 after a term in the state Assembly. It encompasses the Spring Valley township and other neighborhoods on the west side of the Las Vegas Valley.

Harney will likely face a primary challenge from Rick Workman, a senior crime scene analyst with the Las Vegas Metro Police Department who has also announced his candidacy.

No Democrat has formally announced a bid against Kenny, but state Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley is reportedly talking about stepping into the race.

Harney said he was running to help those commissioners who want to restore that trust and work to improve the quality of life for county residents.

That trust in the commission has eroded after four commissioners were questioned about using their position to help friends get concession leases at McCarran International Airport.

But Harney said the real problem is that personal vendettas have played more of a role in the decision-making process than thinking of what is best for the public.

"As long as anyone is voting based on a 'side,' Clark County loses," Harney said. "It's not like past commissions where you may disagree with each other on Monday but come back on Tuesday to make the right decision."

Kenny could not be reached for comment.

Harney wants to evaluate how county money is being allocated and put more backbone in the county master plan for zoning.

Harney, a trooper since 1974, said today was his last day in the high-profile job he's held since 1993 as public information officer for the Nevada Highway Patrol. If elected, he said, he will resign from the highway patrol to devote himself full time to representing his constituents.

Harney, a 30-year Las Vegas resident, has focused on campaign fund-raising in the past couple of weeks, raising almost $100,000. Kenny had $157,000 in the bank as of Dec. 31.

Harney said he was confident that between the donor commitments and his friends he can raise what he needs to challenge Kenny.

"For me, raising money is a lot like calling my family Christmas list," Harney said. "People have greeted me with open arms and checks."

He also said he's had firefighters, police and senior citizens commit themselves to volunteer for his campaign.

Harney said he has not been contacted by Sands owner Sheldon Adelson since turning down an offer of $1 million to move into District E and run against Williams.

A past union president himself, Harney said he would have to consider whether to take money from Adelson, who has been in a protracted dispute with the Culinary Union over hiring union workers when he opens the Venetian hotel-casino Strip resort.

"When and if you take money from anybody," Harney said, "you have to have the ability to say I'm going to vote against you."