Del Papa announces candidacy for U.S. Senate

Wednesday, June 2, 1999 | 10:58 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, who has never lost a political race, sets her sights today on the U.S. Senate to succeed retiring Richard Bryan next year.

The 49-year-old Democrat said she offers a "clear choice" to Republican John Ensign, who ran for the U.S. Senate last year and lost by 428 votes to Sen. Harry Reid.

Bryan and Reid will accompany Del Papa today as she makes her formal announcements at Rancho High School in North Las Vegas and in Reno at the University of Nevada, Reno.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign ran a poll showing her trailing Ensign by 4 percent with 15 percent undecided. She has pledges and collections of about $100,000 so far and is looking at a campaign budget of between $3.5 million and $5 million.

Ensign's campaign manager, Mike Slaker, said it's too early to comment. He said there may be a Democratic primary election and Ensign doesn't know who his opponent will be in a year from November. Ensign has been on the campaign trail in the last few months, quietly raising money.

Del Papa said, "I expect to be outspent but not outcampaigned."

When Bryan announced his decision not to run for re-election, former Gov. Bob Miller was the top Democratic choice to succeed him. But Miller declined to enter the race. And the attorney general has now stepped forward.

Del Papa said she presented a clear choice because she favors choice on abortion while Ensign opposes it. She says she has been active on issues "that draw me closer to the people. They have an impact on their daily lives."

She's been involved in campaigns to stop teen pregnancy and smoking and elder abuse. Other issues include domestic violence and stopping inmates from filing frivolous lawsuits. And she adds, "No one has ever accused me of not working hard."

Del Papa says she appeals to moderates, women and people interested in education. And she thinks the nonpartisan voter will gravitate to her.

She was won four statewide elections, three as attorney general and one as secretary of state. She was also elected to the board of regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada for one term.

Republicans hold a slim margin over Democrats in the number of voters in Nevada. But Del Papa believes she can beat Ensign in Republican-controlled Washoe County.

Ensign won the county by only 2,000 votes last time against Reid despite a 15,000 GOP margin. Del Papa won her race by 15,000 votes in Washoe County.