Brown wins judge’s post

Wednesday, June 9, 1999 | 10:52 a.m.

Perhaps the most visible difference in the campaigns of the two challengers for Municipal Court Department 4 was that Bert Brown had a few last-minute television ads and Jessie Walsh didn't.

Brown won.

Both candidates had walked door-to-door in search of votes, and both blanketed the city with signs.

In speeches, they focused on their experience and background. In the end, Brown won by about 6 percentage points.

Each had argued like good lawyers that their pluses set them above the other, but there were no dirty tactics or viciousness that has earmarked some other campaigns.

"I take it the voters liked my message," Brown said, commenting that he is pleased the campaign did not turn ugly.

"Maybe our race and Oscar's (Goodman) race demonstrates that clean races are the wave of the future," he said.

He called it "quite humbling" that he had so many supporters who worked for and donated money to his campaign.

Brown led the race throughout election night, although Walsh was closing at the end.

In her campaign, Walsh said her experience as a deputy public defender and former deputy city attorney and private lawyer handling criminal cases made her better suited for the judgship that handles misdemeanor cases and traffic matters.

Brown countered that while his private law practice focused on civil cases, he has served as an alternate Las Vegas justice of the peace and actually has made what he said are "the tough decisions" in criminal cases.

Brown also pointed to his membership since 1993 on the governor's commission on substance abuse and as a board member of the Nevada Treatment Center since 1990.

He also touted his family history of community service that goes back nearly a century.

In the last weeks of the election, the campaign for the $91,084-a-year judgship that handles misdemeanors and traffic cases focused on endorsements.

Brown picked up endorsements from former Gov. Bob Miller, Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., and Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev. He also was endorsed by the Police Protective Association, Las Vegas firefighters, labor organizations, Veterans in Politics and Hispanics in Politics.

Walsh has endorsements from the conservative groups Nevada Concerned Citizens and Citizens for Responsible Government and from the Fraternal Order of Police.

Her radio ads told of her support from Gov. Kenny Guinn, although the governor equally supported Brown's candidacy.