Tarkanian questions Maxfield’s associations

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000 | 11:07 a.m.

A quiet race between political newcomer Chip Maxfield and seasoned public servant Lois Tarkanian became a bit testy Tuesday during a televised debate between the two Clark County Commission candidates.

Maxfield, who easily defeated incumbent Lance Malone in the Republican primary race for District C last month, prides himself on being a businessman and an outsider to Southern Nevada's political arena.

But Tarkanian strongly suggested that simply because Maxfield hasn't been involved in politics doesn't mean he won't have conflicts of interest on the Clark County Commission.

Tarkanian said Maxfield, a civil engineer, has ties to developers and has received significant contributions from them. She questioned how Maxfield could protect residents from unwanted developments if he must abstain, as he has had to do as a member of the Lone Mountain Town Board.

"There were times when you had to abstain when you were on the Lone Mountain Advisory Board because of your work with developers," Tarkanian said. "There were also times when you went out to the community and talked up high-density housing, and you backed that. That's not what people in the northwest want."

Maxfield, like Tarkanian, strongly believes the commission has amended master plans too frequently. Maxfield said he would defend the master plan and added that when he supported high-density housing, it was because the plan called for it.

"The master plan is about high density and low density and the quality of life," Maxfield said. "I'll make decisions based on the quality of life."

Tuesday's informal debate took place on the Sun's news discussion program "Point of View Vegas," and was moderated by host Mark Shaffer. The show airs on Cox cable channels 1 and 39.

Maxfield said his experience as an engineer will help resolve the county's problems with transportation. Traffic in the fast-growing northwest is becoming increasingly bad despite construction of the Las Vegas Beltway and the widening of U.S. Highway 95.

"I'm a unique candidate; I'd be the only person on the County Commission who has actually planned, designed and built a road," Maxfield said. "I'm the only person on the commission who has actual experience in planning a community and transportation."

In light of a recent controversy over the placement of Leavitt Middle School off Ann Road, both candidates agreed the county can do a better job planning school sites so that residents aren't taken by surprise. Maxfield proposed assigning a county planner to the school district.

And both Tarkanian and Maxfield said they are fully aware whoever wins might be the only new commissioner to join the board next year; the three other commissioners up for re-election appear to have a smooth path ahead.

They recognize that personality conflicts exist on the board, but each said they would not be pulled onto one side or the other.

"I've developed a working relationship with each commissioner," Tarkanian said. "The key is to develop a consensus."

Tuesday's debate was the first in a series of other debates planned for the next three weeks involving Clark County Commission candidates.