State Controller

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002 | 8:50 a.m.

State Controller Kathy Augustine has three challengers in her re-election bid, although all are running unopposed in their primaries.

Democrat John Lee, Independent American Lisa Black and Libertarian Chuck Eby are eyeing Republican Augustine's position overseeing the state's accounting office.

Augustine is a former assemblywoman and senator who worked on the Legislate Affairs and Operations Committee and served as vice chairwoman of the Taxation and Human Resources and Facilities Committee. She currently serves on the State Board of Finance, the Transportation Department's board and the Executive Branch Audit Committee.

She said she has and will continue to collect debt owed the state. The controller's office has collected more than $100,000 a month toward the $142 million in bad debt owed the state since December, she said.

Lee is owner and president of Vegas Plumbing Services Inc. and Champion Marble and Tile Inc. He has served on numerous city commissions, including the Las Vegas Parking and Traffic Commission, the Citizens Advisory Commission of the Las Vegas Valley Water District, the Las Vegas Parks and Recreation Board and the Clark County Comprehensive Planning Committee.

He said he wants to develop uniform systems of billing and collection to save money and provide more up-to-date financial information.

Black has worked as a legal assistant for the law firm Hansen and Hansen doing accounting and bookkeeping for nine years. She said she is running for controller to help the state better meet its budget needs and to bring more accountability to the office.

"I want the people to know what the government is doing instead of hiding from the citizens," Black said.

Eby has worked as an accounts payable supervisor for two years. He said an accounting background and knowledge of accounting information systems is essential for the office of controller.