Ethics complaint doesn’t stop Arberry primary victory

Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2000 | 10:43 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Assemblyman Morse Arberry survived questions about his financial dealings, and Republican Jack Close cleared the first hurdle in his bid to return to the Assembly.

Every incumbent who faced opposition from his own party won by big margins in Tuesday's primary.

Arberry, seeking a ninth term from District 7, beat former Assemblyman Marion Bennett 1,323 to 932.

Arberry goes on to the general election to meet Chester Richardson, who bested Mabel Lucier in the GOP primary, 247 to 186.

Democrats in the district outnumber Republicans 9,288 to 2,524.

Last month a Bennett supporter filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission, asking for an investigation into whether Arberry had a conflict of interest when he voted for a state grant for a housing development in Las Vegas. The complaint suggested that the grant might benefit Arberry's mortgage company. Arberry has denied any conflict.

Arberry said today the state Ethics Commission has rejected the complaint.

"They (his opponents) didn't have any witnesses" to back up their allegations, he said. "They (the commission) kicked it out."

This is the eighth time Bennett has run against him, Arberry said.

Close, who served two terms in the Assembly before running unsuccessfully for the Senate in 1998, beat Lila Halperin in the GOP District 15 primary race. The vote was 1,293 to 239.

Close faces Democrat incumbent Kathy McClain, who easily defeated Ronald Tanner Jr. 1,531 to 194. Peter Walker, an Independent American candidate, will be on the general election ballot.

District 1: Ed Gobel, a disabled Vietnam veteran, beat Chris Grant 1,237 to 995 in the GOP primary election. Gobel will face incumbent Democrat Tom Collins in the district where Democrats hold a slight edge of 1,000 voters.

District 8: Incumbent Democrat Barbara Buckley, expected to be elected majority leader in the Assembly next year, defeated Maureen Hart 892 to 157. She will face Republican Kevin Child in the general election.

District 11: Michael Wisner captured the Republican nomination, beating Todd C. Poulton 447 to 180. Wisner meets incumbent Democrat Doug Bache in the general election.

District 12: Incumbent Democrat Genie Ohrenschall trounced Ed Flores in the primary election 1,444 to 586. She goes against Republican Geny Del Rosario and Citizens First Party candidate Wanda McClenaghan in the general election.

District 14: Ellen Koivisto, seeking a third term, beat David Brown in the Democrat primary 1,116 to 697. Her opponent in the general election is Republican Michael Davis, who was unopposed.

District 16: John Oceguera defeated Democrat Wayne Weiswasser 849 to 363. And Jack McClary captured the GOP nomination, defeating Leonard Root 805 to 421. Oceguera and McClary will fight it out to succeed Democrat Kelly Thomas, who did not run for re-election.

District 17: Terry Holtz whipped Anthony "Bob" Campagna 963 to 411 in the GOP primary election and earned the right to meet incumbent Democrat Bob Price in the general. Price has won election every two years since 1984. Democrats outnumber Republicans 9,600, to 6,300.

District 20: Bradley Smith polled 2,272 votes to 1,840 for Thomas Welsh to win the Democratic nomination. Smith goes against two-term incumbent Republican Kathy Von Tobel in the general.

District 21: Larry Bettis rolled over Rod Kirk 1,544 to 642 for the Democratic nomination and the right to meet incumbent Republican Sandra Tiffany.

District 28: Incumbent Democrat Vonne Chowning scored a 267 to 197 victory over Judi Lynn in the primary and will meet Libertarian James Dan in the general election.

District 41: John Richie won the GOP nomination over Phillip Dane 206 to 158. Richie will face incumbent Democrat David Parks.

District 34: In rural Nevada, Assemblyman John Marvel of Battle Mountain defeated fellow Republicans Tom Fransway and Kimberlie Davis. The vote was 2,793 for Marvel, 1,219 for Fransway and 354 for Davis. The district includes all or parts of Humboldt, Lander, Pershing, Eureka and Elko counties. Marvel goes against Libertarian James Minser in the general election.

District 37: In this district, which includes parts of Washoe County and Carson City, incumbent Republican Greg Brower polled 4,963 to 705 for Buddy Wright. Brower is challenged in the general election by Daniel Lee of the Independent American Party and Karen Savage of the Libertarian Party.

District 36: Gary Hollis won the GOP nomination, defeating Keith Markley 2,089 to 1,677. Hollis faces incumbent Democrat Roy Neighbors in the district that includes Esmeralda, Lincoln, Mineral and Nye counties.

District 24: In this Washoe County district, Brooks Holcomb won the Republican nomination, beating Sher Hardin 1,193 to 714. Holcomb goes against incumbent Democrat Vivian Freeman in the general election.

District 30: In this Washoe County district, Keith Primus won the GOP nomination over Gary Keller, 724 to 511. Primus goes against Democrat Debbie Smith to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Jan Evans.