Election may change panel’s makeup little

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000 | 10:43 a.m.

Chip Maxfield shocked many government watchdogs when his grass-roots campaign devastated incumbent Lance Malone's high-priced team in the September Republican primary race.

Now the political newcomer is prepared to face Lois Tarkanian, and despite being a fan of the UNLV championship basketball team coached by Jerry Tarkanian, he is hardly fazed by the legendary Tarkanian name.

"Lois is just another candidate; we're two people running for office," Maxfield said matter-of-factly. "She has name recognition, but my name recognition is growing every day."

While many thought Tarkanian was a clear favorite over Maxfield, the Republican collected significant contributions and endorsements -- including one from the influential MGM MIRAGE -- making the race for District C the most compelling.

Although four of the seven commission seats are up for grabs Nov. 7 and there is potential to shake up the board considerably, Malone is expected to be the only board member dismissed.

Eighteen-year commission veteran Bruce Woodbury has yet to even meet his three opponents. Woodbury said Democrat Jeff White, Independent American Joshua Hansen and Libertarian Timothy Hagan have not appeared at candidates' forums.

Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates appears to have overcome her ethics troubles earlier in her term and is a heavy favorite against barbershop owner Joanna Wesley.

Mary Kincaid, who slipped away with a victory after a fierce primary battle against Democratic opponent Stephanie Smith, now faces community activist Glen Easter.

Meanwhile recent polls have shown differences of no more than five points in the race between Maxfield and Tarkanian, according to longtime political consultants Billy Vassiliadis and Kent Oram.

The issue that could ultimately decide the outcome of the race has nothing to do with the commission -- the same-sex marriage initiative on November's ballot.

The deeply emotional issue is expected to force more conservatives to the polls. Maxfield, a Republican and a dedicated member of the Mormon Church, will benefit most, the consultants said.

In the district that includes mostly Republicans, Tarkanian did well in the primary. She collected 8,146 votes compared to 9,403 votes for Maxfield. The question is who will pick up the 5,691 votes Malone collected.

Tarkanian and Maxfield agree on the major issues facing the northwest -- both vow to work toward improved transportation and better long-term planning. And each agree the county can better communicate and work with surrounding cities.

The lack of differences on issues isn't unusual; the fact that there have been few attacks on the two candidates' background is, Vassiliadis said.

"County Commission races typically haven't been this friendly," Vassiliadis said.

More aggressive campaigning may be expected, however. Tarkanian has already questioned ties Maxfield might have with developers through his business, Southwest Engineering, which he co-founded 15 years ago.

She pointed out that Maxfield has had to abstain from certain project proposals while a member of the Lone Mountain Town Board. Tarkanian asked how Maxfield plans to protect the northwest from unwanted developments if he must abstain.

Maxfield, on the other hand, is likely to dig into Tarkanian's past votes on the Clark County School Board, which she has been a member of for 12 years. Unlike Maxfield, Tarkanian has a record that can be scrutinized.

Although both candidates downplay the name recognition factor, Oram's firm OIZ Inc. -- which orchestrated Malone's campaign -- has conducted polls testing District C residents' opinion of Jerry Tarkanian.

Oram concluded that even though Tarkanian has fought NCAA investigations for much of his coaching career, the name can only help his wife.

"Most voters in that area weren't even here nine years ago," Oram said. "I think it's his national notoriety; they think he is a winning coach, a famous coach and they space on that other stuff."

Vassiliadis added that Tarkanian's camp probably saved $300,000 because it didn't have to establish name recognition. But Tarkanian noted that name identity doesn't guarantee a win.

"You don't win a race on name recognition," said Tarkanian, a teacher who specializes in speech pathology and audiology. "I've been my own self. My own contributions to the community are separate from Jerry's."

Neither Vassiliadis nor Oram see one candidate pulling far ahead of the other. Each agree that Tarkanian and Maxfield are likable candidates and whoever runs the better campaign will win the race.

"There is almost a wash on the image scale," Vassiliadis said. "Maxfield is the new kid, fresh face, naive kind of innocent guy contrasted to, not a seasoned politician, but a nice grandmotherly woman; a community contributor with no political ambitions. Both motives will come off fairly pure."

As for the other incumbents facing re-election in November?

"They're in," Vassiliadis said without hesitation.

While some government watchdogs were surprised Atkinson Gates went unopposed in the primary after a sometimes turbulent second term that included two recall efforts, Vassiliadis and Oram were not.

Atkinson Gates, who faces Joanna Wesley in the general election, was found in violation of ethics laws for approving an acquaintance for lucrative airport concessions contracts without disclosing her relationship. The violation was later overturned.

She was also found in violation of ethics laws after inquiring about locating a daiquiri stand in which she had interest in a hotel-casino she governed.

"At the height of Yvonne's issues, they ran two recall efforts and both failed," Vassiliadis said. "That district has known her a long time. It's a strong union district and she is supported by the union. It's a strong Democratic district and she is a Democrat."

Oram said the key to overcoming her earlier troubles was Atkinson Gates' persistence in mailing fliers discrediting the ethics charges and promoting the work she's done on parks and roads.

"Through the ethics deal she worked her district hard," Oram said. "She's done an awesome job fund-raising. It's difficult to beat somebody with nobody."

Atkinson Gates said she is constantly in touch with her constituents and is tireless in her efforts to successfully accomplish projects they request.

"I have a long-standing relationship with the people in the community," Atkinson Gates said. "There is nothing ethics charges or newspapers can say about my commitment to the community. I get my marching orders from my constituents. If they said 'Yvonne, we want you out of office,' the recall efforts would have been successful."

Wesley said she entered the race because residents in District D complained about not having a choice.

"People should have a choice in representation," said Wesley, a Republican who grew up in the same neighborhood as Atkinson Gates. "I decided to step up to the plate to see if they really wanted a change."

Wesley said she would like to see more economic development in the North Las Vegas area. She believes the district can become self-sufficient so residents do not need to leave the community to find work.

Kincaid vs. Easter

The race in District B was close, but it was also decided in the primary last month when Kincaid defeated a tough challenger in North Las Vegas City Councilwoman Stephanie Smith, according to the consultants.

Smith was hand-picked by Kincaid's fellow board member Erin Kenny and the Culinary Union, which Kincaid upset when she voted against an anti-Wal-Mart measure last year.

During her first term on the County Commission, Kincaid helped bolster the police force by 500 officers, and new police substations and fire stations are in the planning stages. Kincaid is also working with fellow commissioners on regional parks for her district.

Easter, borrowing a line from Smith's campaign, claims that Kincaid has neglected the district in the last four years. He said he would be more accessible and would work closely with the North Las Vegas City Council on projects.

"She got elected four years ago and basically walked away from our district," Easter said.

Kincaid said she never has abandoned her district. She said because her district is older and has fewer vacant lots than other communities, she has had to build parks in other commissioners' districts. But, Kincaid emphasized, the parks are across the street from her constituents and primarily serve neighborhoods in her area.

Combining park funds with other commissioners and entities allows Kincaid to build larger regional parks.

"I'm working with other entities to build parks with them," Kincaid said. "It's a cooperative effort."

District A

Commission Chairman Woodbury, who initially hesitated about running for his sixth term on the board, has no viable opponents in the vast District A.

Woodbury's three opponents have been absent at candidates' forums. They reached the general election simply because they ran unopposed in the primary. Jeff White and Timothy Hagan could not be reached for comment and Hansen admitted his chances of beating Woodbury are slim.

Woodbury said one of the issues he would like to focus on during his next term is the master plan. He said he would like it to be more difficult for the board to amend the plan.

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