DeLay lends hand to Porter’s race

Monday, March 27, 2000 | 10:14 a.m.

State Sen. Jon Porter got a fund-raising boost in his race against Rep. Shelley Berkley from House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who visited Las Vegas Saturday for a forum on children's issues and a fund-raiser.

"I'm grateful that Mr. DeLay is able to take time from his busy schedule to discuss our most important resource -- children," said Porter, R-Boulder City. "He and I have both been active in children's issues, particularly the streamlining of the adoption process, which helps provide loving homes for hundreds of Nevada children."

The event raised $20,000 and kept the campaign on track to meet its goal of raising $400,000 by March 31, Porter's campaign manager Josh Griffin said today.

GOP event delayed

The Clark County Republican Party's fund-raiser dinner has been canceled for a second time.

The Spring Fling Evening, originally scheduled for March 11 and rescheduled for Saturday at the Stardust hotel-casino, was canceled because of organizational problems, the county GOP headquarters said.

Dates in June and September are being considered for the fund-raiser, officials said.

Saturday's dinner and reception was to have featured three-term Idaho Rep. Helen Chenoweth-Hage as keynote speaker.

U.S. Senate candidate John Ensign and Gov. Kenny Guinn were among those who had been scheduled to attend.

Activist runs

Henderson Democratic education activist Rod Kirk has announced his candidacy for Assembly District 21.

Kirk, 25, a Green Valley resident who works as a retailer, says he plans to be the first Democrat elected to the District 21 seat held by Republican Sandra Tiffany.

"With $40,000, the help of friends and lots of shoe leather, I intend to be the first (Democrat) to do so," Kirk said. "I'm going to conduct an intensive door-to-door campaign even though I'm up against great odds against a four-term Republican incumbent."

Shot at Tiffany

Larry Bettis, a deputy city attorney in Las Vegas, says he also will run for the Democratic nomination in Assembly District 21 in Henderson, a seat held by four-term Republican Tiffany.

Bettis, who has lived in Green Valley for 10 years, said overcrowded schools, school safety, long-term care and long work commutes are among the issues his campaign will emphasize.

"I think we can do a better job of finding solutions to these very real challenges to our quality of life," he said.

Bettis moved to Clark County in 1990 after completing four terms as Mineral County district attorney in Hawthorne. Previously he worked for the state attorney general's office, the Nevada Legislature and as a clerk for the Nevada Supreme Court.