County Commission District E

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002 | 8:57 a.m.

Democrats are dominating the race for County Commission in District E, Republicans are battling it out in District F and District G candidates are unopposed in the upcoming primary election.

Democrats Tony Badillo and Nevada Stupak are challenging incumbent Democrat Myrna Williams in the District E primary. Republican John Stanhagen is running unopposed in his party.

Williams has served the commission for the last eight years, previously having served in the Assembly from 1984 to 1994. She has also taught at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Social Work.

If re-elected, she said she plans to continue to rehabilitate District E and continue to fight Yucca Mountain and work in retaining water and energy sources for Southern Nevadans.

Williams barely squeaked by Badillo, a 40-year resident of District E, in the 1998 primary for the position. A retired blackjack dealer, Badillo is founder and president of the local International Union of Gaming Employees. He pledges to lower taxes, bring more police into high-crime areas and better adhere to the master plans if elected.

Stupak, son of casino owner and entrepreneur Bob Stupak, is making his second attempt for political office in running for the County Commission seat. The professional boxer narrowly lost a bid for the Las Vegas City Council in 1999. He is the president of the Stupak Foundation and a volunteer at the Stupak Community Center, MASH Homeless Center and a member of young Democrats and the Nevada Hispanic Democratic Caucus. Improving education is high on his priority list, Stupak said.

Republican Stanhagen, a retired university professor, has multiple degrees in business administration, logistics management and education. He said he plans to get rid of "inappropriate taxes" on utility bills, limit growth and limit the changes of taxable value on property if elected.