Republicans hopeful in key runoffs

Thursday, Oct. 22, 1998 | 12:07 p.m.

On Nov. 3, Nevada Republicans hope to gain their first victory in the U.S. Senate in 16 years and their first win in a gubernatorial race in 20 years.

Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., is in a neck-and-neck race with two-term incumbent Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., for Reid's District 1 seat.

Should Ensign win, it would mark the first time a Republican has held either of the Senate seats since Chic Hecht upset one of the House's most senior members, Howard Cannon, in 1982.

In addition to Reid and Ensign, Libertarian Michael Cloud and National Law Party member Michael Williams are on the ballot.

The six-year job pays $136,700 per year.

In a race to replace Bob Miller as resident of the governor's mansion, Republican Kenny Guinn, a retired educator and banker, is squaring off against Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, who has held her current post since 1990 and ran for governor in 1994.

A Republican hasn't served as governor since Bob List defeated Bob Rose in 1978. Should Jones win, it would mark the first time a woman would be elected to the state's highest post.

In addition to Jones and Guinn, Libertarian Terry Savage and Independent American Party member Chuck Horne also are on the ballot.

The four-year job pays $117,000 per year.

Another key race with national implications pits Republican Don Chairez, an attorney, against Democrat Shelley Berkley, a university regent, for Ensign's vacated House District 1 seat.

Libertarian Jim Burns and Independent American Party Party member Jess Howe also are on the ballot.

Should Chairez win, the Republicans should hold on to both of Nevada's House seats, as incumbent District 2 Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., faces opposition only from a minor party candidate, Christopher Horne of the Independent American Party.

The two-year House of Representatives jobs pay $136,673 per year.

Helping to send the winners to those posts will be about 55 percent to 60 percent of the "active" registered voters in Clark County, Registrar of Voters Kathryn Ferguson says.

She expects a smoother operation than when voters went to the polls for the last general runoff in November 1996, a presidential election year.

"We have 93 more polling places than in 1996 and about 1,800 voting machines compared to 1,149 two years ago," Ferguson said, recalling the long lines at the polls. "Also, we have more early voting this year than we did in 1996."

Ferguson says voters who come prepared, having read all of the questions and having made their selections on sample ballots which they can bring with them, could be in and out of the voting booth in less than two minutes.

"We certainly urge people to come prepared and not read the questions for the first time when they get into the booth," she said. "We also urge that they have their decisions for the offices made way before then."

The average ballot will feature 12 questions -- though some will have all 14 -- and 40 races featuring 98 candidates, Ferguson said.

As for turnouts, there actually are two formulas for determining what percentage is expected to show up.

Ferguson predicts that of the active status registered voters -- about 488,000 -- 55 percent to 60 percent will vote.

However, if the estimated 85,000 inactive voters -- those registered voters whose addresses have changed or whereabouts are otherwise unknown -- are factored in, then about a 50 percent turnout is expected.

By comparison, in November 1996 there were 432,581 voters on the active rolls and 265,086 of them voted -- a 61 percent turnout. However, when the 38,414 inactive voters were factored in, that percentage dipped to a 56.3 percent turnout.

At least one race already has been decided -- sort of.

Sheriff hopeful Bobby Hitt conceded the runoff to incumbent Sheriff Jerry Keller, who won the primary in a landslide. However, both Hitt's and Keller's names will appear on the ballot.

Ferguson said that in each voting booth a sign will be posted to let voters know that Hitt has conceded victory to Keller. However, Keller supporters still may want to cast a ballot for him because if Hitt gets more votes, he will be the new sheriff.

Here's a look at the other races:

STATE GOVERNMENT

Lieutenant Governor -- Republican Lorraine Hunt, a Clark County commissioner and restaurateur, meets Democrat Rose McKinney-James, the president of a nonprofit solar company. Also on the ballot are Libertarian Karen Savage and American Independent Party member Daniel Hansen. The four-year job pays $50,000 per year.

Secretary of State -- Incumbent Republican Dean Heller meets Libertarian Robert Brost, Independent American Party member Mary Ann Dickens and Natural Law Party member Lois Avery. The four-year job pays $80,000.

State Treasurer -- Republican Brian Krolicki, the chief deputy state treasurer, meets Libertarian Daniel Fylstra and Independent American Party member Merritt Yochum. The four-year job pays $80,000.

State Controller -- Republican Kathy Augustine, a state senator, meets Democrat Mary Sanada. Also on the ballot are Libertarian Jim Lee and Independent American Party member Thomas Jefferson. The four-year job pays $80,000.

State Attorney General -- Incumbent Democrat Frankie Sue Del Papa meets Republican Scott Scherer, an attorney and former assemblyman. Also on the ballot are Libertarian H. Kent Cromwell and Independent American Party member Joel Hansen. The four-year job pays $110,000.

State Senate District 1 -- Incumbent Republican Jon Porter meets Democrat Richard Lyles. Also on the ballot is Libertarian Kenneth Lucas. The four-year job pays $130 a day for the first 60 days of the Legislature, which meets every two years, and a $66 a day per diem while in session and for required meetings they attend after the session.

State Senate District 2 -- Democrat Maggie Carlton meets Republican Tino Mendoza for the seat of Democrat Jack Regan, who lost in the primary. Also on the ballot is Libertarian Craig Kuntz.

State Senate District 3 -- Incumbent Democrat Bob Coffin meets Republican Lou Toomin.

State Senate District 5 -- Incumbent Republican Bill O'Donnell is unopposed.

State Senate District 7 -- Democrat Terry Care meets Republican Assemblyman Jack Close for Augustine's seat.

State Senate District 8 -- Incumbent Republican Mark James meets Libertarian Jerry Sims.

Assembly District 1 -- Incumbent Democrat Tom Collins meets Republican Jeff Knight. The two-year job pays up to $7,800 for the first 60 days of the Legislature, including $130 a day for every day of the session and for required meetings they attend after the session.

Assembly District 2 -- Incumbent Republican Merle Berman meets Democrat Lynette McDonald. Also on the ballot is Independent American Party member Lucille Lusk.

Assembly District 3 -- Incumbent Democrat John Lee meets Republican Nathan Taylor. Also in the race is Libertarian Louis Roesberry.

Assembly District 4 -- Republican Bob Beers meets Democrat Vince Triggs for the seat of Republican Deanna Braunlin who did not seek re-election.

Assembly District 5 -- Incumbent Republican Barbara Cegavske is unopposed.

Assembly District 6 -- Incumbent Democrat Wendell Williams meets Republican Arlene Southard.

Assembly District 7 -- Incumbent Democrat Morse Arberry meets Republican Craig Moore.

Assembly District 8 -- Incumbent Democrat Barbara Buckley is unopposed.

Assembly District 9 -- Incumbent Democrat Chris Giunchigliani meets Republican Mark Scarborough.

Assembly District 10 -- Incumbent Democrat David Goldwater is unopposed.

Assembly District 11 -- Incumbent Democrat Doug Bache meets Republican Bryan Henchik.

Assembly District 12 -- Incumbent Democrat Genie Ohrenschall meets Republican Brian Clark. Also on the ballot is non-affiliated candidate Ed Flores.

Assembly District 13 -- Incumbent Republican Dennis Nolan meets Democrat Bill Newman.

Assembly District 14 -- Incumbent Democrat Ellen Koivisto meets Republican Mike Plaisted.

Assembly District 15 -- Democrat Kathy McClain meets Republican Jim Forte for Close's seat. Also on the ballot is non-affiliated candidate Florian Tschmelitsch.

Assembly District 16 -- Democrat Kelly Thomas meets Republican Stefan Steel for the seat vacated by Democrat Darrio Herrera, who is a candidate for the Clark County Commission. Also on the ballot is Libertarian Michael Thomas.

Assembly District 17 -- Incumbent Democrat Bob Price meets Republican Frank Tucker.

Assembly District 18 -- Incumbent Democrat Mark Manendo meets Republican Patty Slack.

Assembly District 19 -- Democrat Jerry Claborn meets Republican Gary Horrocks for the seat of Democrat Sandi Krenzer, who did not seek re-election.

Assembly District 20 -- Incumbent Republican Kathy Von Tobel meets Democrat John Oceguera.

Assembly District 21 -- Incumbent Republican Sandra Tiffany meets Independent American Party member Chris Hansen.

Assembly District 22 -- Incumbent Democrat Gene Segerblom meets Republican Anthony Delgado.

Assembly District 23 -- Incumbent Democrat Richard Perkins meets Republican Troy La Mana.

Assembly District 28 -- Incumbent Democrat Vonne Chowning meets Democrat Judi Lynn. (There was no Republican or minor party candidates so both Democrats went through to the general election.)

Assembly District 41 -- Incumbent Democrat David Parks meets Republican Phillip Dane.

Assembly District 42 -- Incumbent Democrat Harry Mortenson meets Republican Bill Robinson.

CLARK COUNTY

County Commission District E -- Incumbent Democrat Myrna Williams meets Republican Mark Smith. The four-year job pays $54,000 per year.

County Commission District F -- Incumbent Democrat Erin Kenny meets Republican Steve Harney.

County Commission District G -- Republican Mike Doyle meets Democrat Dario Herrera for Hunt's seat.

District Attorney -- Democrat Stewart Bell is unopposed.

County Clerk -- Democrat Shirley Parraguirre meets Republican Sam Bledsoe for the seat that Loretta Bowman held for more than three decades before she retired. Also on the ballot is Libertarian Patrick O'Neill. The four-year job pays $72,000.

County Assessor -- Incumbent Democrat Mark Schofield meets Republican Robert Beardshall. Also on the ballot is Libertarian Dick Geyer. The four-year job pays $72,000.

County Recorder -- Incumbent Democrat Judith Vandever meets Republican Micki Johnson. The four-year job pays $72,000.

County Treasurer -- Democrat incumbent appointee Laura Fitzpatrick meets Republican Richard Bell. Also on the ballot is Libertarian Timothy Hagan. The four-year job pays $72,000.

County Public Administrator -- Incumbent Democrat Jared Shafer meets Republican Anne DiMartini. The four-year job pays $72,000.

EDUCATION

University Board of Regents Subdistrict C -- John Ellerton, who won the primary, meets No. 2 vote-getter Tom Kirkpatrick for Berkley's seat.

University Board of Regents Subdistirct F -- Doug Seastrand, who won the primary, meets No. 2 vote-getter Christopher Kindred for the seat of Nancy Price, who did not seek re-election.

University Board of Regents Subdistirct G -- Steve Sisolak, who won the primary, meets No. 2 vote-getter Sherry Colquitt for the seat of Maddy Graves, who did not seek re-election.

State Board of Education Subdistrict B -- Incumbent Gary Waters meets Pamela Krober.

State Board of Education Subdistrict C -- Incumbent Jan Biggerstaff is unopposed.

State Board of Education Subdistrict E -- Incumbent Islena Giron meets Priscilla Rocha.

School District Trustee D -- Incumbent Larry Mason is unopposed.

School District Trustee F -- Incumbent Susan Brager meets Jack Levin.

School District Trustee G -- Patrick Boylan meets Sheila Moulton for the seat Judy Witt vacated to run unsuccessfully for the Assembly.

JUDICIAL

Nevada Supreme Court A -- Incumbent Miriam Shearing is unopposed. The six-year job pays $85,000-$107,600.

Nevada Supreme Court E -- Deborah Agosti is unopposed for the seat of Charles Springer, who is retiring when his term expires in January.

Nevada Supreme Court F -- Myron Leavitt meets Michael Powell for one of two newly created seats that initially will be a two-year post. In 2001 it becomes a six-year job.

Nevada Supreme Court G -- Nancy Becker is unopposed for the other new seat, which also starts as a two-year post and goes to six years in 2001.

District Court Department 13 -- Mark Ralph Denton, Don Haight, Phil Kohn and Melodie Swanson vie for the seat vacated by Chairez on the final day of filing, leaving insufficient time for a primary. The four-year job pays $100,000 per year.

District Court Department 17 -- Michael Cherry, who won the primary, meets No. 2 vote-getter Jim Mahan for the new seat.

District Court Department 18 -- Nancy Saitta, who won the primary, meets No. 2 vote-getter Stephen Webster for the new seat.

District Court Department 19 -- Gary Redmon, who won the primary, meets No. 2 vote-getter Drake Delanoy for the new seat.

Family Court Department A -- Incumbent appointee Bill Voy, who won the primary, meets No. 2 vote-getter James Guesman. The six-year job pays $100,000.

Family Court Department B -- Incumbent Gloria Sanchez is unopposed.

Family Court Department C -- Incumbent Steve Jones is unopposed.

Family Court Department D -- Incumbent Gerald Hardcastle meets Nicholas Del Vecchio.

Family Court Department E -- Incumbent Fran Fine, who won the primary, meets No. 2 vote-getter Robert Lueck.

Family Court Department F -- Incumbent Bob Gaston is unopposed.

Justice of the Peace Department 3 -- Incumbent Tony Abbatangelo is unopposed. The six-year job pays $90,000.

Justice of the Peace Department 4 -- Incumbent James Bixler is unopposed.

Justice of the Peace Department 6 -- Incumbent Nancy Oesterle is unopposed.

Justice of the Peace Department 7 -- Jennifer Togliatti, who won the primary, meets the No. 2 vote-getter Mike Schaefer for the new seat.

Las Vegas Constable -- Democrat Robert Gronauer meets Republican Tom Savage for the seat of Bob Nolen, who did not run. The four-year job pays $72,000.

North Las Vegas Constable -- Incumbent appointee Democrat Herb Brown meets Republican Steven Bergstrom. The four-year job pays $53,000.

Henderson Constable -- Incumbent Republican Earl Mitchell meets Democrat David Burress. The four-year job pays $2,500, plus commissions on court papers served with a salary ceiling of $53,000 annually.

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