Malone, Kincaid face stiff tests in primary

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Aug. 18, 2000 | 11:38 a.m.

Veteran Clark County Commissioners Yvonne Atkinson Gates and Bruce Woodbury are cruising through this campaign season with ease, spending money on little more than a few roadside billboards.

Unopposed in the primary election, neither had any qualms about leaving Las Vegas this summer to attend their respective parties' national conventions.

Just down the commission dais from Atkinson Gates and Woodbury, however, more intriguing races have unfolded.

Commissioners Lance Malone and Mary Kincaid are vying for a second term on the board, and neither has the luxury of having two extra months to campaign for the general election. Both are up against viable opponents in the Sept. 5 primary election.

The difference between Malone and Kincaid is if Malone wins the primary, he still has a tough challenger in Lois Tarkanian -- the wife of former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, a Las Vegas icon -- in the general election.

On the other hand the winner of the primary race between Kincaid and North Las Vegas City Councilwoman Stephanie Smith is expected to easily capture the District B seat during the November general election.

It didn't take long for Kincaid's and Malone's primary opponents to zero in on the incumbents' most controversial votes.

Smith targeted Kincaid's decision to put off a vote on an $80 million bond issue for an independent children's hospital. Her most recent attack claims Kincaid was bought by Wal-Mart because she voted against a union supported measure that would have banned nonunion Wal-Mart Supercenters.

Malone's challenger, Republican Chip Maxfield, has zeroed in on an ethics probe launched after Malone failed to disclose a candidate he recommended for an airport concessions contract was an acquaintance.

Newcomer Maxfield's strategy has clearly irritated Malone.

"After three and a half years, you're looking at one vote out of more than 4,000 and that's what they want to harp on," Malone said.

But that apparently is not all Maxfield intends to harp on. The founder and a co-owner of Southwest Engineering is also capitalizing on criticism Malone received after going back on his word and voting for a neighborhood casino.

Maxfield's most recent television ad shows Malone's nose growing as different issues in District C are addressed.

"Our latest commercial is just to remind people of the truth about the things he has said and done," Maxfield said.

With two well-publicized dings against him, Malone took a risk with his debut campaign commercial. Sitting in front of the camera, Malone admits to making mistakes and apologizes for his first-term gaffes.

Whether the commercial benefits Malone has yet to be seen, but the commissioner stands behind his decision to do it.

"I've been told by a few people that you never want to say you made mistakes; you never want to apologize," Malone said. "That's not my style."

Malone said Maxfield has spent so much time griping about the commissioner's mistakes he hasn't unveiled a platform. Maxfield said Thursday his emphasis is on building parks and improving transportation with a mass-transit program.

"Planning is a big element of mine and those are areas I can help by using my experience as an engineer," Maxfield said.

Malone pointed out that he has accomplished much of what Maxfield wants to do. He built the district's first county park and broke ground on its second Thursday. He also expedited construction of the Las Vegas Beltway and pushed through the widening of U.S. 95.

Malone said he plans to stay positive in his campaigning as evidenced by his newest commercial that shows him strolling through a park discussing his accomplishments over the last four years.

Maxfield said another television ad is on its way, but he declined to discuss the gist or tone of it.

Across the commission boundary in District B, Kincaid has spent much of her campaign fending off attacks launched by Smith and defending decisions she made during her first term.

While Smith swiped the support of the culinary union after Kincaid's Wal-Mart vote, the incumbent was able to hold onto endorsements from the North Las Vegas Police and Metro Police associations.

Smith also has the backing of Kincaid's colleague, Commissioner Erin Kenny. Kenny, who is looking for a new board member who would be more likely to vote her way, encouraged her friend to run.

Smith is even using Kenny's two pet projects -- the Wal-Mart measure and an independent children's hospital -- against Kincaid, who voted against both.

Smith's most recent mailer claims Kincaid, who received a $10,000 contribution from Wal-Mart after the vote, can be bought by special interest groups. The flier says, "It's one thing to shop at Wal-Mart ... it's another thing to be bought by them!"

Early in the race Smith used the children's hospital to attack Kincaid. A graphic flier depicting seriously ill and burned children was mailed to voters in District B with the message that Kincaid doesn't care for children.

Kincaid has maintained she simply voted to delay a bond issue for the hospital until a more thorough needs assessment study could be conducted.

Both candidates say they want to bring more parks to the district and focus on transportation. Smith has emphasized the need to improve air quality.