Sandoval lands law endorsements

Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001 | 9:20 a.m.

Former state Gaming Control Board Chairman Brian Sandoval picked up key law enforcement endorsements in the race for attorney general over the weekend -- a move that makes Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson's potential bid increasingly unlikely.

The Peace Officers Research Association of Nevada, a group representing 24 law enforcement agencies, endorsed Sandoval for the job. Incumbent Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa has announced she will not seek re-election.

In a press release issued by Sandoval's campaign, PORAN President Ron Dreher said his group endorsed Sandoval because of his dedication to crime prevention.

Sandoval also has received the endorsement of the Peace Officers Research Association of California, an organization representing 50,000 peace officers in California and Nevada.

County recorder

Clark County Recorder Judy Vandever will have to run against one of her employees if she decides to seek re-election.

Bob Spencer, a fellow Democrat and the transfer tax auditor in the recorder's office, recently announced his candidacy for the seat.

Spencer is proposing a plan for the office he said will restore fiscal integrity, improve services to the public and boost employee morale.

Bid for governor

Barbara Scott became the first Democrat to officially launch a bid for governor.

Scott, who ran unsuccessfully in the 1998 Democratic gubernatorial primary, splits her time between Las Vegas and Gardnerville. Scott works with a variety of grass-roots organizations committed to voter registration, workers' rights, housing and health care.

In a press release announcing her candidacy, Scott lambasts potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Lee because of his former work with Mirage Resorts Inc.

Election reform

Secretary of State Dean Heller is stumping for federal legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., that Heller said would reform elections.

Heller is also vice president of the National Association of Secretaries of State's western region, which voted to endorse the "Help America Vote Act of 2001."

The bill requires state voter registration systems with links to local jurisdictions and systems to ensure the votes of military and overseas voters are accurately counted.

Heller had advocated a statewide system of voter registration in each of the past three legislative sessions and sought approval for a pilot program for Internet voting by Nevada's overseas military personnel during the 2001 session.

None of his recommendations were approved by the Legislature.

Wall running for District Court bench

Las Vegas attorney David Wall is the latest lawyer trying to parlay his work on the Binion trial into a political win.

Wall, one of the prosecutors in the Binion trial, announced Monday he would be seeking election to a new seat on the District Court bench.

Binion prosecutor David Roger has already announced he is running for district attorney. Incumbent DA Stewart Bell is not seeking re-election.