Maxfield unfazed by Tarkanian lead

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, Oct. 26, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

A recent poll that showed a 5-percentage point lead favoring Clark County Commission candidate Lois Tarkanian has hardly fazed her opponent, political rookie Chip Maxfield.

Maxfield faced the same deficit during his primary face-off against incumbent Commissioner Lance Malone.

Political polls showed Maxfield trailing Malone, and then in a tight race, neither of which was an accurate forecast of the primary election. Maxfield pounded Malone, out-gaining him by 3,712 votes.

"Polls are polls," Maxfield said. "How can you think they're accurate when they said the race was a dead heat, and I won by 24 points?"

The polls released this week by Harrah's Entertainment said 32 percent of 400 residents in Clark County Commission District C plan to vote for Maxfield while 37 percent intend to vote for Tarkanian.

Maxfield had a favorable rating of 35 percent and an unfavorable rate of about 20 percent; 45 percent were undecided. Tarkanian registered a 47 percent favorable rate; her unfavorable rating and those undecided were both 26.5 percent.

Each candidate agrees on the issues facing the fast-growing northwest. And as the Nov. 7 general election approaches, they are beginning to outline how they intend to combat problems that accompany growth like traffic and poor planning.

Dinged in the past for dodging questions about his platform, Maxfield's campaign mailed out a flier early this week listing his ideas. Maxfield's camp now boasts he has a plan and, unlike his opponent, it's in writing.

Maxfield's plan suggests the county commission require a super-majority vote to change zoning that does not conform to the master plan. He also emphasized the need to protect rural preservation areas from higher-density development.

To reduce the conflicts between the county, residents and the Clark County School District, a county planner should be placed in the school district to help site new facilities and coordinate communication efforts.

In response to the controversial children's hospital proposal, which caused a rift when the majority of the board members voted to delay placing a bond question on the ballot, Maxfield suggests a health care summit.

"We must convene a Health Care Summit," Maxfield's flier says. "We will bring in doctors and nurses, the public, the private sector and the consumers."

Tarkanian said the key is to implement promising plans that have been developed by the Regional Transportation Commission and the Regional Planning Coalition to deal with growth.

"The strategy and the money is there," Tarkanian said. "The county workers can only do so much, so why not contract some of that out and help the entire community? The plans are there, it's what we do with the people to get it done more quickly and more effectively."

Tarkanian also addressed the health care needs in the communities. She said she spent hours at University Medical Center after hearing about a shortage of beds in the emergency room. She said 11 patients were never given a bed.

"The county needs to get more treatment centers," Tarkanian said. "If we have a big flu epidemic, we're in big trouble."

As far the two most controversial ballot questions -- same-sex marriage and medicinal marijuana -- Maxfield said he is in favor of amending the Nevada Constitution so that it's clear only a marriage between a man and a woman will be recognized. He is not in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.

Tarkanian said she also believes that the Constitution should only recognize marriages between men and women. She said she supports the use of medicinal marijuana as long is it under tight controls.

Both candidates agree the controversial questions will bring more voters to the polls. And Tarkanian hopes the turnout on Nov. 7 will reflect the most recent polls conducted by Harrah's.

"No matter what the polls say you have to work like you're way behind," Tarkanian said. "Although I must say it's gratifying to be ahead. I'll take it."