Governor

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002 | 8:47 a.m.

Five Republicans and four Democrats have stepped up to challenge Gov. Kenny Guinn, who, despite the number of opponents, appears poised to win re-election.

Guinn has support from voters on both sides of the aisle, a pile of endorsements and more than $2 million in the bank.

Still Republicans Shirley Cook, Bill Hiett, Stanleigh Harold Lusak, Bruce Westcott and Poliak, who has dropped his first name from the ballot, are in the primary. Only James Prevot of North Las Vegas, whose name remains on the primary ballot, has thrown his support to the governor.

Democrats on the ballot include Sen. Joe Neal, Barbara Scott, Christopher J. Petrella and Dan Meyer.

Guinn, 65, a former school superintendent and bank and utility executive, was elected in 1998.

During his term he has had to slash tens of millions of dollars out of the state's budget, and has twice called the Legislature for special sessions -- last year to handle redistricting and last month to resolve the medical malpractice crisis.

Westcott, 64, is not impressed with that record. He says the past 3 1/2 years have been marked by an education crisis, a budget crisis, a medical malpractice crisis, Yucca Mountain and an energy crisis.

Westcott, a former pianist at Caesars Palace and small-business owner, wants to restructure the state's operating budget and tax plan and the education department. He also wants to move Nellis Air Force Base and he opposes illegal immigration.

He would raise the current gaming tax to 7 1/2 percent and impose a 5 percent tax on any out-of-state business generating more than $100,000 in sales in Nevada.

Cook, 70, a former court reporter, is accepting no campaign contributions to avoid outside influence.

Cook says she she will continue to fight a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain and favors a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases with no exemptions.

She wants to cut taxes, reduce electric power rates for those on a fixed income, improve health care and build more recreation facilities.

Hiett, 61, a cattle rancher who says he is living off an inheritance in Ely, wants to have the state grow and sell marijuana -- but only "in the middle of the state." Hiett proposes a $100-an-ounce tax on the marijuana for revenue.

Lusak, 60, a semiretired Postal Service worker and road worker, ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1998 and for president in 2000.

Lusak bases his race for governor on "constitutional issues."

Formerly known as Carlo Poliak, the former Democratic candidate has dropped his first name and switched parties. Poliak ran for governor in 1994 and 1998 as a Democrat.

Now a Republican, the 62-year-old Republican Services sanitation worker said he favors "budget busters," and would stop utility rate hikes.

The Democratic field is less crowded but possibly more competitive.

Neal, 67, is the best known of the four Democrats, thanks to being the longest-serving senator in the state's history.

A retired Nevada Test Site worker, Neal supports raising the gaming tax from its current 6 3/4 percent to 10 1/4 percent to pay for health care, transportation and educational needs.

He also bucks with the Democratic Party's position on Yucca Mountain, not because he supports the project -- which he doesn't -- but because he has long advocated negotiating for benefits.

Scott, 47, a former topless dancer who now is a community activist, has launched the highest profile challenge to Neal.

She is running a grass-roots campaign -- speaking at home dinners and helping people restore disconnected utilities. It is her second run at the governor's mansion. She also ran in 1998.

She wants to repeal the state's right-to-work law, give renters more protection from eviction, use more alternative energy resources, improve mental health programs and negotiate with the gaming industry to come up with a tax plan.

She also opposes Yucca Mountain and wants a state lottery to help pay for expanded health-care coverage and medical malpractice insurance.

Meyer, 43, a slot route operator in Reno, strongly supports small businesses.

He compares his candidacy to "one big letter to the editor."

Petrella, 35, an interactive television developer from Las Vegas, entered the race when his pregnant wife lost her doctor to the medical malpractice crisis.

It is not his first run for office. He ran for Clark County sheriff in 1994. He also served on the White House Council on Small Business.

He proposes lowering the gaming tax in exchange for the industry's charitable donations to schools and health care programs.

Also on the ballot will be Charles Laws for the Green Party, David Holmgren for the Independent American Party and Richard Geyer, a Libertarian.

Laws, 70, a retired environmental engineer, has run for office before: in Nevada in 2000 for Congress and in Massachusetts in 1995. He wants to see the production and shipment of nuclear waste stopped, water protected and injustice minimized.

Homlgren, 48, is a rancher in Hawthorne and wants lower taxes, alternative energy and a return to constitutional principals.

Geyer, 66, is a medical marketing representative and member of the Metro Police Civilian Police Review Board who opposes tax increases, nuclear waste storage at Yucca Mountain and federal control of any land in Nevada.