O’Connell, Rawson fight to hold onto longtime jobs

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000 | 10:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The 2001 Legislature will tackle the thorny issues of taxes, reorganization of government and reapportionment.

But that hasn't discouraged some from mounting challenges in the primary election to the "good old boys" in the Senate.

Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, chosen in one poll as the best lawmaker in the 1999 session, drew opposition for the District 5 seat from Frank M. Mathews, vice president of the state Board of Education.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, who has been a leader in crafting various health programs and promoting a dental school for UNLV, faces fellow Republican Britt Merson of Las Vegas.

Sen. Joe Neal, D-Las Vegas, the first black elected to the state Senate and a strong critic of the casino industry, is opposed by fellow Democrat Uri Clinton.

Sen. Ray Shaffer, D-North Las Vegas, a 16-year veteran of the Legislature, goes against businessman Harold Giron.

In Northern Nevada, the only primary race in the state Senate pits incumbent Republican Dean Rhoads of Tuscarora against Gene Gustin of Elko. The winner meets William "Billy" Oswald, a Libertarian from Winnemucca in the general election.

The next Legislature, expected again to be controlled by Republicans, may have to decide what to do with initiative petitions from Neal and the Nevada State Education Association, both calling for increased taxes. Neal wants to raise the tax on the major casinos from 6 1/4 percent to 11 1/4 percent on gross revenue to pay for raises for some state workers, provide additional finances for public schools and a tax break on the motor vehicle privilege tax.

The teachers' union is sponsoring a 4 percent profit tax on businesses that earn more than $50,000 a year.

The Legislature is expected to revisit the problem of prescription drugs for senior citizens. It approved a plan offered by Gov. Kenny Guinn at the last session, but that has been slow to get off the ground. And there has been criticism of the effort.

Reapportionment will result in more voting power moving to Clark County. The lawmakers must decide on the shape of congressional, legislative, Board of Regents and School Board districts. And there are suggestions Nevada should retreat from its position to permit full-scale electric deregulation.

O'Connell, first elected in 1984, has been chairwoman of the Senate Government Affairs Committee that carries one of the heaviest workloads in the Legislature. She has a 100 percent voting and attendance record and is the first woman ever to head the Legislative Commission that conducts administrative business of the Legislature between sessions.

If re-elected in Senate District 5, O'Connell, 66, wants to update the Taxpayers Bill of Rights, promote the memorial for veterans of World War II, require public meetings to be audio taped, update the homestead exemption and stop the courts from requiring increased taxes.

Mathews, 49, a computer specialist for the Clark County School District, says he is giving up what may be a safe seat on the state Board of Education because he's not happy with the Legislature.

The Legislature, he said, talks about improving schools but doesn't put its cash on the line. For instance, he said Clark County is having trouble attracting teachers to take care of rising school enrollments. But, he says, the Legislature hasn't done anything innovative, such as giving bonuses or other incentives to lure teachers to Nevada.

Nor has the Legislature come up with the money to help students with limited English proficiency advance in their classes. Unless it and the governor come up with a better plan, Mathews said, he will support the teachers' tax initiative to funnel more money into the public schools.

Seeking the Democratic nomination for District 5 are Charles "Chuck" Hawk and Ronald "R.J." Moers, both of Henderson.

Hawk, 68, spent 43 years in the building trades as a superintendent for large companies both in this country and overseas as a superintendent. He's been involved in labor negotiations, job supervision, health and welfare issues.

"I am familiar with education issues, the problems that surround the elderly and government," Hawk said.

Moers, 58, a commercial property manager, opposes the 4 percent business profit tax proposed by the teachers' union, opposes same-sex marriages and believes casinos should pay "their fair share" to support schools. He says he will fight for lower gas prices, lower utility rates and affordable medical care.

The following is a breakdown of the other primary election races in Clark County:

District 2

Shaffer, 67, served on the Transportation, Natural Resources and Commerce & Labor committees in the 1999 Legislature. So far, he has asked for bills to be drafted for the next session to allow the licensing of a limited number of dentists from out-of-state and to require a candidate to disclose his arrest record when he files for office. The latter bill is a slam at his Democratic opponent, Giron, owner of Plaza Giron.

Giron says he's been arrested three times but never convicted. He says Shaffer has been in office 16 years but "hasn't done anything except raise his salary." Giron ran previously for the North Las Vegas City Council and for the Assembly. He says the major issues are water, education, nuclear waste and air quality.

Vying for the Republican nomination in this heavily Democratic district are Tino Mendoza, an attendance officer for the Clark County School District, who served 24 years in the Army, and Richard Gardner, 60, a participant and instructor at the Freeman Institute on Constitutional Studies.

District 6

Rawson, 59, who serves as assistant majority leader, was first elected in 1984. He has been the leader in a drive to create a dental school at UNLV. Nevada, he says, is 50th among the states in access to dental care. He also wants to look into long-term care insurance to avoid bankrupting the Medicaid fund in the future. Rawson, who is director of dental programs for the University and Community College System of Nevada, has asked that bills be drawn for the 2001 session that would toughen the law restricting expansion of casinos into neighborhoods, provide money for the state Arts Council and establish a zero tolerance policy for drug use in high schools.

Merson, his Republican opponent in the primary election, did not respond to a Sun questionnaire and did not return telephone calls. Terrie Stanfill, the Democratic candidate, is unopposed in her primary election.