Nevada news briefs

Wednesday, May 6, 1998 | 10 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Vince Juaristi, an executive assistant for Gov. Bob Miller, has resigned to take a newly created post in the chancellor's office of the University and Community College System of Nevada. Juaristi will be executive director of the Nevada Institute for Children which was approved by the board of regents last week. The institute has been pushed by first lady Sandy Miller and will be located at UNLV to gather research on children in Nevada and to coordinate efforts on behalf of children. Juaristi, a native of Elko, was on Miller's staff for two years and was assigned children and health care issues.

CARSON CITY -- Six people have been named as Nevada's representatives to the Rocky Mountain Presidential Primary Task Force to look at a common date for a presidential primary election or caucus in the West. Gov. Bob Miller Monday named the final two members as Lyndsey Jydstrup, executive director of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, and Secretary of State Dean Heller, a Republican. Previously appointed from the Legislature were Sens. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora, and Valerie Wiener, D-Las Vegas, and Assemblymen Lynn Hettrick, R-Minden, and Tom Collins, D-North Las Vegas. The 1997 Legislature, at the request of Miller, agreed to join the task force.

CARSON CITY -- To coincide with the opening of the political season, the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada has asked candidates to sign a "Buck-Stopper" pledge to limit campaign spending. The alliance, which includes labor, environmental and social organizations, wants to restrict spending in the governor's race to $3.4 million for a candidate, or $4 per registered voter. The alliance would like to see a ceiling on legislative race campaign spending at $3.50 per registered voter. Paul R. Brown of the alliance said Republican Assembly members Dennis Nolan and Kathy Von Tobel, both of Las Vegas, and Don Gustavson of Sparks and Democrats Ellen Koivisto and Mark Manendo, both of Las Vegas, and Sen. Bob Coffin, also of Las Vegas, have signed the pledges. Brown said the $3.4 million limit in the governor's race "is more than enough for a viable campaign." GOP candidate Kenny Guinn has raised close to $3 million already. Pledge forms have been mailed to candidates for governor and all legislative incumbents and declared candidates. "We must curtail the cost of running for office, otherwise only the wealthy or those indebted to the wealthy will be able to afford to run," Brown said. Joining in the effort are Common Cause and the League of Women Voters.