Election ‘99: Provost keeps his Municipal Court post

Wednesday, May 5, 1999 | 9:58 a.m.

Incumbent John Provost kept his seat as Henderson's Department 2 Municipal Court judge with 60.6 percent of the vote.

Provost, 38, received 6,868 votes of the 11,332 cast.

He was appointed to the Municipal Court bench in 1996 and was first elected in 1997. Before his appointment he was a private attorney in Las Vegas.

The Department 2 seat was created because of the city's growth.To keep up with Henderson's growth, Provost said he wants to expand the drug court program, expand community service and in-jail counseling. He said he'll continue to plan for growth by adding a third Municipal Court department in the next couple of years.

"We're a busy, busy court," he said Tuesday night after learning of his victory.

An eight-year Henderson resident, Provost presided over more than 250 trials in 1998 as well as presiding over adult and juvenile traffic arraignments.

Provost began a pilot drug court program 18 months ago that provides rehabilitation and drug testing for offenders. He offers Monday evening court for those who work days.

Matthew Dushoff, 33, a prosecutor with the attorney general's office since 1994, was Provost's leading challenger with 18.73 percent of the vote.

The three-year Henderson resident practiced as a New York City public defender for three years before moving to Nevada. His experience ranges from civil and criminal litigation to civil rights violations. His platform included programs dealing with domestic violence, drunken driving, fire-code violations and graffiti.

Jim Carlson, 50, a substitute teacher for the Clark County School District, ran on a platform to keep drunken drivers off the streets, to provide accommodations for senior citizens and to provide programs such as anger control for domestic abusers.

Lloyd Bair, 71, a retired construction worker and licensed financial and credit consultant, ran on a platform to protect constitutional rights. This was his second run for Municipal Court judge.