Incumbents move forward in County primaries

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998 | 2:28 a.m.

Clark County incumbent Laura Fitzpatrick held onto her treasurers position Tuesday night in an all-Democrat race.

Fitzpatrick, 44, began serving as treasurer in March when she was appointed to finish the term of admitted felon Mark Aston. Aston resigned after admitting to taking $21,497 from the state County Fiscal Officers Association.

During her short tenure, Fitzpatrick changed the county's investment policy that had cost taxpayers more than $1 million.

Before taking over the treasurer position, Fitzpatrick was a client service manager and senior audit manager at Deloitte & Touche. She has nearly two decades experience in governmental accounting and financing.

Fitzpatrick captured 20,232 votes or 36 percent; John Bonaventura received 15,315 votes. Also entered into the race were Democrats Joe Ullom, Sarah McGinty and Ade Lla Logan.

Incumbent assessor Mark Schofield was an easy winner over fellow Democrat Dan Parker, securing 70 percent of the Democratic votes during primary elections Tuesday.

The race for a Republican nomination between Robert Beardshall and Richard Roush was close, but Beardshall jumped ahead late and received 27,954 votes to Roush's 24,091.

Schofield has served four years as county assessor and prior to his term spent time on the Clark County School Board. He's also a member of a grassroots citizen's group -- Initiative for Quality Education -- that monitors the school system.

His platform includes installing the most efficient, user-friendly equipment in the assessor's office and watching legislative actions to ensure taxpayers are treated fairly.

Beardshall, who is running for public, has spent 10 years as a commercial appraiser and before that was a real estate sales manager.

The 42-year-old Republican candidate promises to treat customers with respect and said he will always be open to constructive criticism.

Incumbent county recorder Judith Vandever won the Democratic nomination, beating Carole Keeler and Luke Perry. Vandever received 24,193 votes or 45 percent.

Vandever will face Republican Micki Johnson in the November election. Johnson beat Richard Swift by a narrow margin, collecting 25,338 votes to his 22,368.

Vandever, who has 19 years experience in the recorder's office promised to continue working on customer service and technology. Johnson said she will strive to restore trust and morale in the office.

Anne DiMartini beat fellow Republicans Les Wolfe and Gina Reese in the one-party race for public administrator. DiMartini received 21,146 votes, or about 40 percent.

Wolfe received 16,374 votes and Reese collected 15,859 votes.

DiMartini, a real estate sales person and former assemblywoman, said she will change the format of the position to eliminate conflicts of interest and prevent abuses of power.