Assembly veteran Chowning poses challenge in Hispanic district

Erin Neff

Monday, Dec. 3, 2001 | 9:32 a.m.

Hispanics courted both parties in Carson City during this spring's contentious redistricting process, asking lawmakers to create legislative districts that would give them the best chance of electing the candidate of their choice.

To some Hispanics that meant creation of an incumbent-free district with a majority Hispanic population. So when the final map showed Assembly District 28 with no incumbent and a 65 percent Hispanic population, Hispanics began readying their candidate.

That was before the finer lines of redistricting came into focus for Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning.

Although Chowning has been the District 28 representative since 1993, she was drawn into District 11 -- a seat held by Doug Bache, D-Las Vegas.

Her choice: run against a fellow Democrat and fellow committee chair or move to an open district.

So after months of what she calls "heart wrenching" debate, she decided to move into the new District 28. But in so doing, she becomes a quasi-incumbent with name recognition in what was an open district promised to Hispanics.

"It puts many of us in a very uncomfortable position," said Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, who led Democratic redistricting talks. "Vonne had to make her decision, and I respect her decision.

"I think these are going to be very difficult months ahead with Vonne (being) a member of our (Democratic) caucus and with our intentions to fulfill a Hispanic district."

Chowning was stunned when she realized she would have to battle a fellow Democrat or move, she said.

"This was not something that I thought was going to happen," said Chowning, chairwoman of the Assembly Transportation Committee. "How that was decided is beyond me."

It's also difficult for Moises Denis, a 40-year-old state Public Utilities Commission employee, who in October announced he would run for Assembly District 28 as part of a Hispanic Coalition slate of candidates.

"This isn't Vonne's district anymore," Denis said. "That's where I've lived for 30 years. She's going to have to talk to everyone, and this is the district where I grew up."

Denis admits it would be easier seeking election in a truly open seat, especially given Chowning's name recognition and the support Hispanics have given her in past elections.

"Unfortunately, she's a good legislator," Denis admitted.

Andres Ramirez, president of the Hispanic Democratic Caucus, said he does not feel as though Hispanics were cheated in the redistricting process.

"The purpose was to create a district to give the Hispanic candidate a chance to win," Ramirez said. "Our focus was to get the seats. We can't control what happens after they're drawn.

"It was a calculated risk," Ramirez added.

Chowning is going to have to prove herself against Denis, who is active in education issues with service to the North Las Vegas Library Board and local parent-teacher organizations, Ramirez said. Denis also was appointed to chair the Commission on Education Technology and is active in church and scouting in the district.

"I kind of feel that it's my district," Denis said.

Chowning disagrees, noting that she is the only one who has ever represented District 28 since its creation. Chowning is a Realtor who helps Hispanics buy homes in the district and speaks fluent Spanish.

She also has been a North Las Vegas Planning Commissioner, a scout leader and has been active in Little League in the district.

"It's so easy for someone to say, 'Why don't you just move to another area?' " Chowning said.

Chowning said she looked at Assembly District 3, a seat held by Democrat John Lee, who is running for controller. She also considered the other open Assembly seats.

After driving the new District 28, Chowning said she believed she had the best chance of winning in that seat, regardless of Denis' candidacy.

"The Hispanic community has said they've been represented well by me," she said. "We're all Americans."

Perkins said he doesn't consider Chowning an incumbent running in District 28.

"Technically, it's still an open seat," he said, noting that Chowning will not be able to ask voters to re-elect her to that district.

"Our caucus made a sincere effort, in working with the Hispanic community, to create an open seat," Perkins said. "We could accommodate that if we would have expanded the Legislature.

"When we made the conscious decision not to grow the Legislature, it put us in a bind," Perkins added.

Ramirez admits it is easier for a candidate to win in an incumbent-free district.

"It's always easier, sure, but is it impossible to beat an incumbent? No," he said.

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