Deadline hits for Nevada election filing

Brendan Riley

Tuesday, May 16, 2000 | 8:27 a.m.

CARSON CITY - Several candidates have wound up with free rides into office now that Nevada's deadline for seeking public office has hit.

Those with no opposition by Monday's deadline include Chief Justice Bob Rose and Justice Myron Leavitt. But Justice Nancy Becker faces two challengers, lawyers Day Williams and Gary Backus, who want her state Supreme Court seat.

In Nevada's U.S. Senate race, Ed Bernstein is the only Democrat now that Ron Moers has withdrawn and jumped into a state Senate contest. But Republican John Ensign is getting a primary challenge from Fernando Platin Jr. and Richard Hamzik.

The contenders are after the Senate seat that incumbent Democrat Richard Bryan is giving up.

In House District 1, incumbent Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley faces Republicans Jon Porter, Jim Blockey and Nancy Price. Price was a surprise last-minute entry in the race.

In House District 2, Republican Rep. Jim Gibbons faces Mitchell Tracy in the GOP primary. Democrat Clay Baty, who had strong party support, withdrew on the last day. But Democrat Tierney Cahill, a teacher who got into the race as a class project, is still in the contest.

Several splinter party candidates also are seeking the federal offices, including representatives of Independent American, Natural Law, Green, Libertarian and Citizens First parties.

Legislative hopefuls who wound up with no opponents include Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, a Reno Democrat. Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio and Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, both Reno Republicans, have only minor party opposition.

In the Las Vegas area, Assemblymen Harry Mortenson and Mark Manendo, both Democrats, got free rides. And Assembly members Merle Berman and Bob Beers, both Republicans, got only splinter party opponents.

In rural legislative races, GOP Assemblyman John Carpenter of Elko and Democrat Marcia De Braga of Fallon are unopposed. But state Senator Dean Rhoads of Tuscarora drew a last-minute opponent, fellow Republican Gene Gustin.

This year's crop of candidates include a few former lawmakers trying to make political comebacks -among them former Assemblyman Lou Toomin of Las Vegas who's seeking the state Senate seat held by Valerie Wiener.

Also trying again are former Assemblyman Marion Bennett, challenging fellow Democrat Morse Arberry, the incumbent assemblyman; and former Assemblyman Jack Close Sr., running against incumbent Democrat Assemblywoman Kathy McClain.