2002 commission race shapes up as a hot one

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 | 8:23 a.m.

Election Day is more than a year away, but names well known in the Las Vegas Valley's political arena are popping up in Clark County Commission races that may affect more than the makeup of the board.

The seven-member commission could have a fresh look come January 2003, when three members' terms expire.

Commission Chairman Dario Herrera is abandoning his seat to run for Congress; Myrna Williams, who discussed retiring after this term, changed her mind and Erin Kenny already faces myriad opponents should she choose to run again.

Whether two of the three incumbents, who also make up the trio who pushed to hire new County Manager Thom Reilly, will return to the commission isn't a given considering the field of potential candidates.

Kenny, whose land-use decisions have infuriated some constituents, who have vowed to boot her from office, faces three opponents already raising money even though the race is not until 2002.

Kenny has been accused of gerrymandering Republican public relations specialist Esther Quisenberry out of her district when boundaries were re-drawn. Quisenberry put her home up for sale last month and plans to move back into the district.

But Quisenberry apparently wasn't the only candidate in District F whose homes fell on the wrong side of district boundaries when the final map was drawn.

Heidi Vasas, who owns an insurance company, said both her homes were taken out of the district, forcing her to move in with her fiancee.

Vasas, 20-year resident of Las Vegas, said she's tired of elected officials favoring special-interest groups like unions and developers. She was particularly angry that Kenny went against residents' wishes lately and voted to change the zoning of residential property to commercial.

"I don't like tyrants and bullies, and I don't like what's happening," Vasas said. "I want this race badly."

So does Devin Smith, who manages construction and remodeling projects for the city of Las Vegas. Smith said residents in the southwest don't believe they have true representation.

"Residents believe they have no ear on the County Commission," Smith said. "I would make sure every person was listened to and every call was returned."

Kenny did not return phone calls this week. Political consultant Mike Sullivan, however, said despite residents' criticisms and opponents' threats, Kenny will likely return to the commission if she wants to run for re-election.

Developers and unions represent a large cross-section of the community, Sullivan said. The remaining voters will base their decision on the state of their neighborhoods.

"Ninety percent of residents you never hear from; they make decisions based on, 'Is there a cop in the neighborhood? Fire protection? Is there a school? Is there a park nearby?' "

Kenny has two distinct advantages: Her district gained 5,000 more Democrats in the redistricting process, and she is a prolific fund-raiser. In 1997 she shattered commission fund-raising records by taking in $1.2 million.

"Erin will prevail because she has money," said Sullivan, owner of Paladin Agency. "Even if you call a race even, you have to give her four or five points."

Fellow Democrat Williams said during her last campaign that she would retire after her term. But Williams said this week she has two projects -- a health clinic at the Cambridge Community Center and a new park -- she wants to see completed.

"When I ran the first time, I was naive," Williams said. "I thought I could get this done immediately. We're always a little naive about how long it takes to get through the bureaucracy."

The only opponent Williams is said to have is Nevada Stupak, who in 1999 lost his bid for a Las Vegas City Council seat to incumbent Gary Reese. Stupak is the son of Stratosphere hotel developer Bob Stupak.

Nevada Stupak said he has yet to decide whether to jump into the race.

"I'm open to the idea of running for a political seat again," Stupak said Wednesday. "I haven't created an exploratory committee to go forward, but I haven't necessarily ruled it out."

Only one candidate's name has been mentioned to succeed Herrera since state Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, dropped out of the race. Rory Reid, former chairman of the state Democratic Party and son of Senate Majority Whip Harry Reid is essentially being considered as anointed to the position, Sullivan said.

Because Reid is considered a conservative Democrat, Sullivan said Reid could struggle in the Democratic primary race if a viable candidate ran against him. But his conservative philosophies would benefit him in the general election.

The race could potentially have effects that reach farther than the board.

Kenny, Herrera and Williams rushed to hire Reilly with little discussion with their colleagues. Some commissioners said Reilly was forced upon them -- those commissioners could be the members remaining after the election.

Sullivan agreed the race could affect Reilly, who has a clause in his contract that calls for a review after a year. New commissioners sometimes want to create their own administration.

But the political consultant said he believes the four commissioners who are not up for re-election fully support Reilly. They were simply disappointed in the process used to hire him.

"You know when you get the job, don't unpack your bags because when political winds change, you never know ..." Sullivan said. "Reilly's a talented guy. He can probably stand on his own."