Hunt, McKinney-James seek to diversify economy

Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998 | 12:12 p.m.

The Republican and Democratic candidates for the office of lieutenant governor agree that it is time for Nevada to diversify its economic base.

Gaming has a similar impact on Nevada as oil once had on Oklahoma and automobiles have on Michigan.

"I came from Detroit," said Democrat Rose McKinney-James, who has lived in Nevada for 18 years. "It's not good to rely on one industry (such as automobiles). We need a well-planned effort to diversify."

Republican Lorraine Hunt said if the state doesn't diversify more aggressively, "we are in trouble."

"We need economic diversity now more than ever before because of the proliferation of gaming in other states," she said.

Hunt would like to see an expansion in the airline industry, production plants, light industry, distribution centers, motion-picture industry and multi-media facilities as well as 21st century telecommunications centers and other global enterprises such as foreign trade zones.

McKinney-James also pointed at the variety of ways to diversify.

"We've barely tapped 25 percent of the international market open to us," she said.

She also believes working with the air-transport industry is essential to continued economic success, especially in the international markets.

The two candidates also expressed similar opinions about growth in the valley, though Hunt was more vocal in rejecting any hint of controlled growth.

Neither would endorse the so-called "ring around the valley" concept, putting a cap on growth.

"That's a terrible idea," Hunt said. "I believe in the free-market system."

McKinney-James said she believes in "managed growth, not controlled growth."

"I'm enjoying the benefits of growth," she said. "I appreciate the need for basic services. Our industry has been taxed -- there is no well-coordinated planning. The strategic planning concept makes a lot of sense to me."

Hunt, a county commissioner, sits on the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority, a cooperative effort by area communities to manage growth.

"Everybody sitting at the same table, that's where the growth issues are," she said. "Regional strategy planning is the way to go."

The two candidates strongly disagree on the lieutenant governor's role as president of the state Senate.

"The lieutenant governor can play a valuable role as president of the Senate," McKinney-James said.

She noted that the lieutenant governor could become governor and therefore should be familiar with major issues in the state Legislature.

Hunt believes presiding over the Senate is a ceremonial activity.

"It isn't really critical to good government," she said, "and I'm not in this for ceremony."

Both candidates believe for the state to have continued economic success it is necessary for various organizations who have similar duties to work together and not duplicate services.

McKinney-James would support the idea of merging agencies with similar duties, much the way Metro Police was formed by the merging of the Clark County Sheriff's Department and the Las Vegas Police Department.

She thinks parks and recreation, water and sewer and many other agencies could operate more efficiently if they worked together.

Hunt noted that many organizations are working on economic development.

"We need to be working together," she said. "We have to market the state as a whole."

McKinney-James and Hunt each have had a depth of experience they feel qualifies them to be lieutenant governor, Hunt more predominantly in the private sector and McKinney-James in positions of government.

McKinney-James, who has a law degree, is president and chief executive officer of the Corporation for Solar technology and Renewable Resources and formerly was director of the state's Department of Business and Industry, an appointment made by Gov. Bob Miller.

Her experience includes being commissioner of the Nevada Public Service Commission, chief of staff of the Las Vegas city manager's office, director of Las Vegas Intergovernmental Relations, project manager of the Nevada Economic Development Co. and economic coordinator of the Operation Life Community Development Corporation.

Hunt, a county commissioner since 1995, is owner of the Bootlegger Restaurant in Las Vegas.

She is a founder and director of the Continental National Bank and director of the First Security Bank of Nevada.

In 1972 she was named president and chief executive officer of Perri Inc., a real-estate and restaurant-management company.

In addition, she has served as vice-chair of the Nevada Commission on Tourism, executive committee member of the Nevada Development Authority, vice-chair of the Nevada Motion Picture Foundation, director of the Nevada Hotel-Motel Association, president of the Nevada Restaurant Association, chair of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and director of Las Vegas Events.

Joining the race in the general election are Independent American Daniel Hansen of Sparks and Libertarian Karen Savage of Incline Village.

Hansen, a Nevada native, is founder of the Independent American Party.

He is an active member of the Gun Owners of America, a life member of the John Birch Society, a leader in the Stop Fluoridation Committee and the Nevada Committee to Restore Decency.