Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000 | 10:51 a.m.
While some incumbent Nevada politicians face stormy primaries, observers doubt the upcoming election will produce any major seat changes.
Although early voting is set to begin Saturday for the Sept. 5 primary election to send winning candidates to the Nov. 7 general election to compete for federal, state and local offices, so far few contentious issues have surfaced.
"Incumbents will do well," said political science professor Eric Herzik of the University of Nevada, Reno. "The state Assembly will not change. That will remain Democratic. The state Senate will most likely remain Republican."
The featured statewide race is the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev. But only the Republicans have a primary and former Rep. John Ensign is heavily favored against Richard Hamzik and Fernando Platin Jr.
Ensign is expected to face Democrat Ed Bernstein in November and is heavily favored to win that election as well.
The only major issue that has emerged in that race has been the competing discount prescription drug plans by Ensign and Bernstein.
Both of Nevada's incumbent House members are running again, but Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., has only nominal opposition in his re-election bid to represent Congressional District 2. His GOP primary opponent is Mitchell Tracy.
"Gibbons has done a fairly good job with constituent services," said UNLV political science professor Ted Jelen. "If I were to go after that seat, I would go with a Republican who is more ideological."
Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., will automatically go to the general election in the Congressional District 1 race, but she is expected to face stiff competition from GOP state Sen. Jon Porter, the favorite in a three-way Republican primary that includes Jim Blockey and Nancy Price.
The Nevada Legislature, where Democrats control the Assembly and Republicans hold the Senate, is expected to make legislative redistricting its top issue during the 2001 session. Unless either party captures both houses, however, redistricting figures to be a bipartisan affair.
"There have to be winners and losers," Jelen said of redistricting. "This is a zero-sum game."
Seven incumbent state senators from Clark County are seeking re-election, but only four have primaries. They include Democratic state Sens. Ray Shaffer in District 2 and Joe Neal in District 4, and Republican state Sens. Ann O'Connell in District 5 and Ray Rawson in District 6. There is also a GOP primary in District 2 and a Democratic primary in District 5.
Neal's primary against Uri Clinton and Christopher Montanez is drawing the most media attention because he has proposed an increase in the state gaming tax on the largest resorts to help pay for education and other needs. In a race with no Republican or third-party candidate he must win more than 50 percent of the vote in the three-man Democratic primary to avoid a general election runoff.
The only incumbent Assembly member from Clark County who is not seeking re-election is Democrat Kelly Thomas in District 16, paving the way for primary battles involving two Democrats and two Republicans.
Of the county's 25 incumbent Assembly members seeking re-election the only ones with primary battles are Democrats Morse Arberry Jr. in District 7, Barbara Buckley in District 8, Genie Ohrenschall in District 12, Ellen Koivisto in District 14, Kathy McClain in District 15 and Vonne Chowning in District 28.
The District 15 election is of particular interest because one of the two Republicans in the race is former Assemblyman Jack Close. If he wins his GOP primary and McClain wins hers, District 15 will feature the only general election Assembly contest pitting an incumbent against a former legislator.
Two incumbent Democratic Assemblymen, Mark Manendo in District 18 and Harry Mortenson in District 42, have no opposition.
Four Clark County commissioners face re-election, but only two, Democrat Mary Kincaid in District B and Republican Lance Malone in District C, have primaries.
Kincaid will face North Las Vegas City Councilwoman Stephanie Smith and Malone is battling Chip Maxfield. Incumbent Commissioners Bruce Woodbury, a District A Republican, and Yvonne Atkinson Gates, a District D Democrat, will be in the general election.
"Growth will certainly be an issue at the County Commission level," said UNLV political science professor Michael Bowers.
Another contest of note is the nonpartisan three-way primary battle for Nevada Supreme Court Seat G, pitting incumbent Justice Nancy Becker against Day Williams and Gary Backus.
Also on the ballot are candidates for county district court judges and School Board members, justices of the peace, state Board of Education and state university regent.
"Education is always a big issue in terms of not only funding but accountability," Bowers said. "Are our children learning what they should be learning?"
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