Public Administrator

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002 | 9 a.m.

Four Democrats, six Republicans, one Independent American Party member and one Green Party member are all vying for the seat to be vacated by current public administrator Jared E. Shafer.

The Democratic primary features Dan Ahlstrom, Gina C. Cinquegrani, Adrian Mendoza and Mike Pierson.

A chief deputy district attorney, Ahlstrom pledges an "open door" policy if elected. Ahlstrom, 58, also has been a Justice of the Peace, a deputy city attorney and assistant U.S. Attorney in Nevada.

Cinquegrani has eight years experience working for the public administrator handling probate and guardianship. Holding an "open door" policy is crucial for the public administrator's office, she said, and one of her key goals is to educate the public on the role of the office and expand the services provided by the public administrator.

A native Las Vegan, Mendoza, 28, says he will leave no area resident without a will if elected. Often, he says, the only contact many people have with the office of the public administrator is when someone dies without a will, leaving the family at the discretion of intestate law.

Mendoza is secretary to the Hispanics in Politics and serves as production assistant of the Miss Nevada and Miss Teen Nevada Pageant Committee.

Retired Las Vegan Pierson, 49, has been employed for the state and Clark County, serving as a police officer, park ranger and emergency medical technician. Pierson's goals for the office include improving community outreach and education, increasing awareness of the need for wills and estate planning, and improving relations between the community and sister agencies.

Republican candidates include Ann Adam, David Austin, Bob Campagna, Mike Schaefer, Ivan Tippetts and Paula Walsh.

The goals of retired teacher Adam, 66, include educating new residents and senior citizens about the office to reduce unnecessary use, evaluate the office by soliciting staff and client ideas on improvement and expediting services by updating and streamlining the office. If elected, she says, she will serve only one term.

California attorney and Las Vegas property manager Mike Schaefer claims partisan politics will be a thing of the past if he is elected. The former city prosecutor and councilman in San Diego plans to audit the Las Vegas budget for the past five years to determine why the budget has increased at a greater pace than the population.

Las Vegas entrepreneur Ivan Tippets, 54, pledges to put the focus of the office squarely on integrity and family values if elected. Tippets holds general contractor and real estate licenses. The owner of two residential group homes for the elderly, Tippets has testified before the Senate committee health district as an expert witness.

Court reporter Paula Walsh, 54, says she will open up the use of attorneys, real estate brokers, banks and stockbrokers. Walsh holds an associate's degree in business and is a member of the Association of Legal Administrators.

Austin and Campagna did not respond to requests for information.

Green Party candidate Robert E. Parker represents a choice outside the mainstream for Las Vegas-area voters, he says. Parker, 45, is currently a sociology professor and has held a position on the Clark County Economic Opportunity Board.

Independent American Party candidate Anna Kjorvestad, 17, a student at Silverado High School, did not respond to requests for information.