Anti-prostitution advocate files for Assembly

Monday, May 11, 1998 | 9:13 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- John Reese became known in Nevada for his almost single-handed fight against legal prostitution in the rural counties.

He spent his own money on billboards and newspaper advertising in hopes of gaining backing for his campaign. He devoted his own time to looking into the health hazards and the possible violations in the houses of prostitution.

Friday, he filed for the Republican nomination for the state Assembly for a district that includes southwest Reno, Incline Village and part of Carson City. But he's given up his anti-prostitution crusade.

"I don't think it can be done," he said, when asked by reporters if he would try to close the brothels through a law in the Legislature.

"There's no support for it, "even after we caught kids working in the brothels," said Reese, 52 of Reno. He once tried to start a male brothel in Pahrump in Nye County but gave up.

Now working to get his state license in landscaping, Reese said he wants to put a cap on sales and property taxes. For instance, he said some property taxes at Incline Village have risen 30 percent.

And he's pushing an educational program to eliminate many of the state's mandated courses and concentrate on the basics.

This is his first try for public office. Recently he had worked in Las Vegas but moved back to Reno. Prior to that he was a laborer for a concrete company.

Reese hopes to succeed incumbent Peter Ernaut who did not run for re-election.