No major-party challenger for House incumbent Gibbons

Martin Kuz

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

From a Republican perspective, Rep. Jim Gibbons faces the best kind of Democratic opposition in his re-election bid: none.

The District 2 congressman is up against Independent American Christopher Horne, Libertarian Louis Tomburello and the Natural Law Party's Robert Winquist. But with Democrats failing to field a challenger, Gibbons' return to Congress is virtually guaranteed.

The lack of a major-party opponent has enabled the former Nevada assemblyman to concentrate on legislative tasks at a time when most of his colleagues are hoofing it along the campaign trail.

While Gibbons has yet to sponsor a bill that became law during his nearly two years in Washington, he takes pride in helping fend off efforts to store the nation's nuclear waste in Nevada. As a member of the House Resources Committee, he lobbied against creating a temporary nuclear repository at Yucca Mountain.

Aside from remaining vigilant on the nuclear waste issue, Gibbons said he will continue to push for Congress to route more federal funding to Nevada to improve its roadways and water infrastructure. He also intends to fight expansion of Internet gambling and federal regulation of the gaming industry.

On a national level, Gibbons, who lost the 1994 governor's race to Bob Miller, favors using the federal budget surplus to shore up the Social Security trust fund.

The former Nevada National Guard pilot also would like Congress to take another crack at campaign finance reform. Gibbons joined several other House freshmen in crafting a bipartisan bill that would have outlawed soft-money contributions to political parties, only to see the proposal shelved.

As for the lack of a Democratic opponent, Gibbons won't complain about his good fortune, but he figures what's more important is answering to his constituents.

"They want someone who listens to them and works hard for the people of Nevada," he said.