Thu, Aug 15, 2002 (7:37 a.m.)

Voters will get to decide which Republicans and Democrats will square off in November for the seat formerly held by Jon Porter.

On the GOP side five-term Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany is challenged by former Assemblyman Bob Wong.

Tiffany, 53, is a small-business owner with national certification in radiology and nuclear medicine. During her terms in Carson City, she has been co-speaker pro tem and has been a member of the Ways and Means and Education committees.

If elected to the Senate, Tiffany pledged support for legal efforts to defeat Yucca Mountain, higher standards and accountability in education, guaranteeing textbooks for every child, protecting seniors from telemarketing fraud and stronger regulatory oversight of nursing homes.

Tiffany is also a staunch supporter of tort reform to alleviate the medical malpractice insurance crisis.

Wong, 61, is a former assemblyman in District 15. A former high school teacher and probation officer, Wong is a third-party administrator.

He pledges to focus on malpractice reform, product liability reform, education funding, no-fault insurance consideration and equalizing funding between the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Wong is also interested in long-term health care reform, veteran assistance and zoning issues.

On the Democratic side, state Board of Education member John Hawk faces a challenge from consultant Sharon Gobel.

Hawk, 28, is an education consultant for the Clark County School District and a math instructor at UNLV.

Hawk said he wants to rid government of partisan bickering by focusing on consensus building and teamwork. He said his experience as an elected member of the Board of Education has taught him how to work cooperatively with others.

Gobel, 22, is a project manager and consultant who decided to run for the Senate seat to "make a difference."

Gobel said she is focusing on rewarding good teachers, medical malpractice tort reform and care of veterans and seniors.

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