Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Cutting political pie

Saturday, Oct. 7, 2000 | 2:44 a.m.

Mike O'Callaghan is the Las Vegas Sun executive editor.

ONE OF THE issues already being considered by state Assembly and Senate candidates is reapportionment of both federal and state legislative districts. A third U.S. representative will be required by the Census 2000 results and Clark County will gain additional power in the Nevada Legislature.

There should be little sweat and hand wringing over most of the necessary decisions. According to the Nevada Constitution the reapportionment shall take place the first session after the taking of the census. This rules out the suggestion that it should be done in a special session following the regular 2001 Legislature. The only exception would be if the census data isn't available during the regular session. This is unlikely to arise as a problem. With the use of computers and outside experts, the districts should be reapportioned in a matter of days. This is true unless extreme petty partisan politics rears its ugly head.

No matter how you cut the pie, the growth of Clark County will require almost 70 percent of the Nevada Legislature to come from its boundaries. Also, the population increase will allow two of the three national representatives to come from this area plus Lincoln and Nye counties if necessary. There's no legal way for these increases to be denied. The big question will come down to deciding if the Nevada Legislature will increase in numbers or remain the same.

It's highly doubtful if the suggestion of reducing the Assembly from 42 to 38 and the Senate from 21 to 19 will be given any serious thought. This reduction would leave Clark County with the same number of legislators and save money, but could reasonably be viewed as unfair to rural Nevada.

When discussing reapportionment problems with local legislative candidates, many of them see Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, as being a problem for Clark County. Raggio isn't an ogre but he is a highly competent legislator who represents his district with skill. If I lived in his district he would probably receive my vote. The senator is as territorial as a bear protecting her cub, which is the Reno area. He is unafraid to use the power he has gained during his 28 years in the Senate and has found few senators willing or able to challenge him. When asked about this, Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, told us that he was "handed his head" the last time he stood up to Raggio. Rawson, evidently a quick learner, has no intention of again facing the political guillotine.

So Raggio and Gov. Kenny Guinn, both Republicans, will be heard as they should be. But when all is said and done, Clark County will have more power and the rest of the counties will have less even if they don't lose any of their seats because Clark will then gain at least two if not more assemblymen, and at least one senator.

The latest figures coming from Carson City show us that the addition of even one legislator can cost taxpayers $315,000 over a two-year period. Any more than three new legislators can also add costly construction costs. So the fewer number of new additions to the Legislature between now and 2010, the better off will be taxpayers.

When deciding reapportionment issues, legislators should spend their time considering taxpayer costs, fairness and their districts, rather than worrying about partisan political gains.