Republican race centers on medical malpractice

Erin Neff

Monday, Aug. 12, 2002 | 10:58 a.m.

The GOP primary for state Senate District 8 was once just about how conservative the district might head.

But with the two Republican candidates' different backgrounds -- one who is banking on doctor support and the other who is a trial attorney -- the debate has sharply refocused on medical malpractice.

"Look at this ad," Assemblywoman Barbara Cegavske says, after furiously paging through the Yellow Pages crowding the small table at downtown's Iowa Cafe. "Can you believe this?"

Cegavske points to the Christensen Law Firm ad -- the one that proudly hypes an $8.4 million settlement -- and says with disgust, "He's proud of that."

He is her primary opponent, Tom Christensen, a self-described "oddball" in the trial lawyer profession -- a conservative who favors tort reform.

"I was a Republican before I became a trial lawyer," Christensen said.

Christensen said his firm's seven attorneys have sued "less than 10 doctors" for malpractice since 1985. Christensen personally has spent the past two years handling mediations and arbitration, and not malpractice.

Cegavske hopes that doesn't put the issue to rest. During the special session of the Legislature, Cegavske worked to cap non-economic medical malpractice jury awards at $250,000 and privately objected to the governor's proposed $350,000 limit on some cases.

"Almost everyone I talk to when I go door to door tells me to do something to keep the doctors here," Cegavske said.

Later when asked about the two Democrats running for the seat, Cegavske mentions Ed Portello and, as if to show confidence in her campaign says: "A trial attorney and a pool contractor. Talk about having it made."

Those close to Cegavske said she puts on a different face privately, worrying about whether she'll raise the $250,000 she said she'll need for the race, and worrying if she's conservative enough.

Christensen, meanwhile, tiptoed around queries about his links to supporters of Question 2 -- the so-called Protection of Marriage constitutional amendment backed by Richard Ziser. The measure bans recognition of same-sex marriages, which state law already prohibits.

"It's certainly a large part of my philosophy," Christensen allows. "But larger than that is the importance of the family in our society. A lot of problems in our society can be drawn back to efforts to disrupt the family."

Moments earlier Christensen's secretary buzzed into his office: "Tom, Richard Ziser's on line one for you."

The top two issues Christensen lists on his campaign literature are: "More parental involvement in school and community" and "Traditional family structure."

Cegavske, who also supports Question 2, said her top priorities are education and "meaningful" tort reform. Recently, Cegavske has been talking about a proposal to allow teachers to negotiate individually for 1, 2 or 3-year contracts with the administration.

"I don't think you can have one salary for every teacher," Cegavske said.

Cegavske, 50, was the Assistant Assembly Minority Leader in the 2001 session, serving on the Education, Transportation and Ways and Means committees. She was first elected in 1996.

A Minnesota native and 1969 graduate of Mayo High School in Rochester, Minn., Cegavske later moved to Las Vegas and attended Clark County Community College. She is currently director of development for WestCare Foundation.

Cegavske is married with two sons and has been very active in Parent Teacher Associations and education committees, including serving as vice chair of the Education Commission of the States.

"Education has always been my primary interest and goal," Cegavske said.

Christensen, 46, comes from a well-known Las Vegas family. His grandfather, M.J. Christensen, was a state assemblyman and senator known mostly today by the jewelry business he founded. His father, Carl Christensen, was a District Court judge for 22 years.

Tom Christensen graduated from Valley High School in 1974, got a mathematics degree from Brigham Young University in 1979 and a law degree from BYU Law School in 1981.

Christensen is an Eagle Scout who volunteers with Boy Scouts, Safe Haven and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southern Nevada. He is married with seven children ranging in age from 6 to 23.

"Two decades of childbearing," Christensen says.