Woodbury pursues sixth four-year term on board

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2000 | 9:15 a.m.

Campaign season is old hat for Bruce Woodbury.

The venerable Clark County commissioner is pursuing his sixth four-year term. And aside from a few billboards propped up along the roadside, the race for the District A seat has been quiet.

Woodbury didn't rush to announce his intent to run again, mulling over whether he would rather spend time with his seven children and grandchildren.

And when he finally filed, serious contenders backed off, leaving three hopefuls to try to end the Republican Woodbury's record streak as a commissioner.

Candidates for District A include Tim Hagan, treasurer of Nevada's Libertarian Party and a senior engineer with EG&G Special Projects Inc. Hagan's goal is to lower taxes and diversify the economy so it is less dependent on gaming.

Joshua Hansen, vice chairman of the Independent American Party, said his intent is to ensure Metro Police are following the law. He is also anti-abortion. The third candidate in the race is Democrat Jeff White.

District C

The race that faces County Commissioner Lance Malone, the only other Republican on the board, is the polar opposite of Woodbury's bid.

Malone is hardly as entrenched as his Republican counterpart and he is against stiff competition in both the primary race Sept. 5 and the general election on Nov. 7.

Because much of the valley's booming growth is spreading farther northwest, the key issues in District C will continue to be traffic problems and the placement of public facilities such as schools.

Opponents quickly capitalized on mistakes the former Metro Police officer made during his first term representing District C, which covers the vast northwest region of the county.

Malone's two most infamous comments are so unforgettable, even he uses and then explains one in a letter to his constituents. The first statement ("I didn't know it was THAT Gay Reber") was made after he failed to disclose that a candidate he recommended for an airport concessions contract was an acquaintance.

The second line ("All a public official has is his word and I'm going to have to go back on mine") was made when Malone decided to vote for a neighborhood casino after telling competing casino executives he would oppose it.

Malone's most viable candidate in the primary election is Lone Mountain Citizens Advisory Board Chairman Chip Maxfield.

Maxfield's first mailer depicted newspaper headlines showcasing Malone's gaffes with the accompanying question: Isn't it time for honesty and ethics in county government?

Maxfield, who has lived in Las Vegas most of his life, started Southwest Engineering 15 years ago.

Though he has a fraction of the money Malone has collected, Maxfield has spent hours walking door to door meeting residents in his district. Polls conducted by casinos have shown Maxfield barely behind Malone, a positive sign considering Maxfield joined the race relatively late and doesn't have the name recognition Malone enjoys.

Maxfield's platform concentrates on growth, primarily smart long-term planning and managed growth.

The candidate who wins the Republican primary is expected to face the Democrats' most viable contender, Lois Tarkanian, in the general election.

A member of the Clark County School Board for 12 years and the wife of a Las Vegas icon -- former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian -- Lois Tarkanian does not have the name recognition problem.

Her School Board district also covers the same area as the commission district, so Tarkanian is familiar with the important issues in the northwest. Tarkanian, a nationally recognized educator of the deaf, is in support of education reform. As the mother of four, her ultimate goal is to make Clark County a better place for future generations.

Other District C candidates:

Tate, a longtime community activist, also feels a need to improve the transportation system for residents, provide adequate health care for the entire population and focus on long-term planning for continuing growth.

He said he would crack down on developers and contractors who use vacant land as dumps and wants to protect neighborhoods from the gaming industry.

District B

Although Malone's colleague Mary Kincaid has more political experience she also is only seeking her second term representing District B.

Kincaid, owner of Kincaid Flower Korner, was a North Las Vegas city councilwoman before moving over to the commission in 1997. Known as the quiet board member, Kincaid made two decisions in the last year that her opponents hope will sink her.

The Democrat lost the support of the influential Culinary Union when she refused to vote for its ordinance prohibitingnonorganized Wal-Mart from opening traditional Supercenter stores in the county.

While the Culinary Union shifted its support to Kincaid's primary opponent, Stephanie Smith, Kincaid held onto endorsements from other unions, including the Metro and North Las Vegas police associations.

Smith quickly pounced on Kincaid's decision to delay a bond issue that would have made way for the county's first independent children's hospital, trying to persuade constituents Kincaid doesn't care about children's issues.

Kincaid voted with the majority of the commission to hold off on a bond issue until a task force could study whether there is a need and whether the county could afford such a facility without raising taxes.

Smith, a former state assemblywoman, is a North Las Vegas city councilwoman who has helped bring new parks, improve public safety and education. But she said she can be more effective as a commissioner since the board wields more power.

Smith, a schoolteacher, has also said she would address air quality issues and traffic problems that have accompanied growth in Southern Nevada.

Political experts suspect whichever candidate wins the Democratic primary race will easily take the general election.

Five candidates will battle each other in the Republican primary.

District D

Perhaps the most surprising commission race is in District D, where Yvonne Atkinson Gates is expected to easily reclaim her seat for a third term.

Atkinson Gates survived a recall attempt and overcame two ethics investigations during her last term. She has no opponent in the primary election.

The following Republicans will be on the primary ballot: