Republican candidates raise taxing issues for state

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2002 | 10:53 a.m.

Democrats tried unsuccessfully for two years to recruit an official candidate to run against Gov. Kenny Guinn, but six Republicans willingly decided to take on their party's state leader.

Guinn, with support from voters on both sides of the aisle, a pile of endorsements and more than $2 million in the bank, is expected to cruise to re-election in November against even the strongest Democrat.

But that isn't swaying Shirley Cook, Bill Hiett, Stanleigh Harold Lusak, Poliak -- formerly known as Carlos Poliak -- and Bruce Westcott. Only James Prevot of North Las Vegas, whose name remains on the GOP primary ballot for governor, has decided to swing his support to the incumbent.

"He's basically doing what I would do," said Prevot, a Clark County Schools psychologist who lives in North Las Vegas. "I'm basically out of it."

The five others aren't technically out of the race, but Guinn's re-election campaign chairman Pete Ernaut asks: "What reason do voters have to turn Gov. Guinn out?"

Kenny Guinn

Kenny Guinn, 65, was first elected governor in 1998 after two decades of work leading Las Vegas businesses, utilities and education systems.

Raised in Exeter, Calif., Guinn earned a bachelor's and a master's degree in physical education from Fresno State University and a doctorate in education from Utah State University.

He moved to Las Vegas in 1964, and worked as a planning specialist for the Clark County School District and soon was named superintendent -- a post he held until 1978.

Guinn then became vice president for Nevada Savings and Loan, which later became Pri- Merit Bank. At PriMerit, Guinn was appointed chairman of the board of directors and was recruited to become president of Southwest Gas Corp. He also served as chairman of the board of directors of Southwest Gas in 1993.

Guinn served as interim president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1994 and has served on numerous government committees and boards.

In 1998 Guinn beat popular Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, a Democrat, for governor -- his first elected post.

During his first term, Guinn has had to slash the state's budget, cutting tens of millions of dollars and has had to twice call the Legislature for a special session -- once to handle redistricting and more recently for the medical malpractice crisis.

Guinn also gained national attention this year for becoming the first governor ever to veto a decision by the president when he formally objected to Yucca Mountain.

After raising more than $2.3 million for his re-election bid, Guinn decided this summer to stop accepting more donations. "I don't need any more campaign money," he said.

Law enforcement, business and labor organizations, including the Nevada State Education Association and the AFL-CIO of Nevada have all endorsed Guinn.

But that hasn't slowed the five remaining active opponents.

Bruce Westcott

Bruce Westcott, 64, said he thought the past 3 1/2 years have been marked by an education crisis, a budget crisis, a medical malpractice crisis, Yucca Mountain and the energy crisis. "I think the state has been poorly run," he said.

Westcott is a former pianist at Caesars Palace who dabbled in hot dogs in Florida and now wants to relocate Nellis Air Force Base and invoke war against illegal immigrants.

"I've gotten more national attention than I have here in the state," Westcott, a Las Vegas resident, said. "There are gun battles between our borders. We're at war with foreigners trying to exert their force who then come in and feed on a plethora of social services."

Since Nevada doesn't border another country, Westcott admits his top priority isn't immigration but a "5-point" education plan centering around a computer on every desk.

How much would it cost?

Wescott cites 1998 figures for those entering first grade (33,000) and says his program would cost about $30 million for first grade only. He said he would add computers to other grades each year over the next 12 years.

What about kids currently in grades 2 through 12?

"I don't know. I just know that whatever is happening now isn't working."

Westcott arrives at the interview with a file folder marked The Budget. Inside is a copy of a Sun article about taxes, the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada's tax plan and a typed proposal he said will raise $750 million.

For starters, Westcott would raise the current gaming tax to 7.50. He would impose a 5 percent tax on any out-of-state business generating more than $100,000 in sales in Nevada. Westcott wants to raise the cigarette tax and impose a 2 percent tax on unearned investment income (even if that would mean asking voters to amend the constitutional ban on income taxes.)

Westcott said he's qualified to be governor because he's learned from experience starting a business, which failed, and re-starting the effort called the Great American Hot Dog and Draft Beer Emporium.

"I've had successes and failures in life," Westcott said. "I think that will help me lead."

Westcott finished last in a field of four candidates vying for the Republican nomination for governor in 1998. He said he's learned from that race enough to know that he needs to improve name recognition.

Shirley Cook

Shirley Cook, 70, said she might be making "national news" with her candidacy.

"I have not accepted any money, not even a penny, because if elected I would not want to be influenced," Cook, a Las Vegas resident said. "I'm honest, fair and I have faith in God."

Cook was born in Chicago and later moved with her husband to Texas, where she cites being named as first runner-up in the Mrs. Texas Beauty Contest as part of her experience to run the state.

As a former court reporter, Cook said she has faith in our court system and judges to decide the state's Yucca Mountain cases. She said she was upset the state Legislature considered a $350,000 cap -- with exemptions -- on non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases.

"I think it should be $250,000 with no exemptions," Cook said. "If we would have it the same as California there would be no reason for the doctors to leave."

When informed that the $350,000 plan was actually negotiated by Guinn, Cook continued to complain about the Legislature, adding: "I don't want to say anything against Gov. Guinn."

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

How much money would that take?

"You can't solve problems by throwing money into them," she said. "It's our money and our taxpayer money. There's other ways to solve problems."

Bill Hiett

Bill Hiett, 61, said he is running for governor for "benefits and improvements."

Asked to clarify, Hiett,said he wants "benefits for myself and millions of dollars a day to the state."

Hiett, of Ely, calls himself a Southern aristocrat living off an inheritance, but declines to elaborate. Born in Richmond, Va., he said: "My Dad raised me the Spartan way, said it would build moral character."

After a stint in Las Vegas "I had to leave, couldn't stand the heat," Hiett moved to Ely three years ago. He has worked on a tug boat as a cook and currently raises cattle.

"I know which ones grow the fastest," Hiett said. "That's the key."

His main platform for Nevada is 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 to bring in revenue, and said he wants to limit the sales to central Nevada to "bring people into the state."

When asked how he would handle the current medical malpractice insurance crisis, Hiett defers.

"I think Guinn can figure that out," Hiett said.

What if he wins?

"Then I guess that's another one I'll have to figure out."

Stanleigh Harold Lusak

Stanleigh Harold Lusak has already run for president and Dayton justice of the peace, so it's not unusual to see him on the GOP gubernatorial ballot.

Lusak, 60, of Fallon, did not return several phone calls left for him.

His website states he is a 14-year Postal Service veteran and a former Los Angeles County road worker.

Lusak ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 1998 and for president in 2000, the same year he finished last in the race for Dayton justice of the peace.

Although much of Lusak's website focuses on national issues over which Nevada's governor has little or no control, Lusak bases his race for governor on "Constitutional issues."

"Restore contitutional law -- common law -- common sense," his site reads. "If there isn't an injured or damaged party, there isn't any crime. NO MORE TRAFFIC CITATIONS unless there is an injured or damaged party."

Lusak wants all laws to contain just one issue ("no add-ons") and says that for every law that is enacted, one must be repealed.

Lusak's site says he is a descendant of the explorer William Clark.

Poliak

The candidate formerly known as Carlo Poliak has dropped his first name on the ballot but not his desire to win the election.

Poliak ran for governor in 1994 and 1998 as a Democrat, finishing last in the Democratic primaries in both years. He also ran for Las Vegas Mayor in 1999 and for the Clark County Commission in 2000.

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

As governor, he would "Resolve the nuclear repository issues by exercise of state sovereignty," he wrote in a candidate questionnaire for the Sun.

And he would "apply equal taxation," a system he said differs from "Guinn's idea to put it all on the working class."

Guinn has offered no comment on taxes until after the election.

Poliak did not list a phone number when he filed for office. His e-mail address in-box was too full to accept mail and a letter sent to his Las Vegas home requesting an interview was ignored.

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