Kenny, Neal file on last day for top spots

Erin Neff

Tuesday, May 21, 2002 | 11:12 a.m.

For days it seemed as though this year's election cycle would be predictable since few surprises occurred during the first 10 days of the filing period.

But filing ended at 5 p.m. Monday with a frenzy of candidates rushing to the Clark County Government Center and the Sawyer State Office Building to sign up.

Among the last in line were Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny filing to run for lieutenant governor, state Sen. Joe Neal running for governor, and state Sen. Mark James running for Kenny's commission seat.

Just nine days earlier Kenny said in an interview that she would be too busy studying for Nevada's bar exam to run for statewide office. "Absolutely nothing," she said May 11 when asked what race other than her commission seat she would seek.

What a difference a week made, and suddenly Democrats have viable candidates for three of the state's six constitutional offices.

Kenny, who did not return calls after filing, will run against incumbent Republican Lorraine Hunt, who is seeking a second term.

Gov. Kenny Guinn had escaped all but a token challenge from Deputy Attorney General Matthew Dushoff, a Democrat who pledged he would run. But on Monday Dushoff declined to file, citing his father's sudden grave illness.

Instead the Democrats got instant statewide name recognition in Neal's candidacy.

"I'm opposed to the direction that we're heading in," said Neal, 67, a Democrat from North Las Vegas.

Neal, first elected in 1972, has served 15 regular sessions and three special sessions of the Legislature -- the longest Senate service in Nevada history.

He has also been one of the longest thorns in the side of the gaming industry -- circulating a petition to raise gaming taxes and running for governor in 1998 on the same plank. Neal lost the 1998 Democratic primary to Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones, who went on to lose to Kenny Guinn.

Neal said Guinn is responsible for allowing power companies to essentially deregulate and set up Nevada ratepayers for a heavy burden. Neal was also the first to publicly suggest Nevada Power's rates may have been manipulated by Enron-controlled trading.

But the gaming tax increase is again the centerpiece to Neal's campaign. He has argued gaming taxes should increase from 6 1/4 percent to 12 percent to help pay for schools, infrastructure and health care.

Guinn's campaign chairman Pete Ernaut said the governor would treat his opponent "with the respect given a state senator."

But Ernaut also downplayed Neal's appeal saying the senator "has supported unpopular causes that are still unpopular."

James, who eight weeks ago decided not to seek re-election to his senate seat, is now a front-runner to win Kenny's county commission seat. A moderate Republican who chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, James had left office saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.

He could not be reached Monday after he filed.

In other filing surprises, wrestler and auto shop owner Buffalo Jim Barrier filed to run for state Assembly against Democratic incumbent Ellen Koivisto.

Barrier, who has had public feuds with neighboring business, Crazy Horse Too, does not expect to get any campaign contributions from Crazy Horse owner Rick Rizzolo.

"But I wonder how much he'll give to my opponent," said Barrier, who filed as an Independent American candidate.

Former Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren, who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1998, filed to run against Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas. The Republican is a surgeon who is expected to focus on the state's medical malpractice crisis.

McClain's most identifiable issue is her support for a state lottery.

In addition to James' surprise run for county commission, Nevada Stupak also filed to run for the board.

Stupak, the son of Stratosphere founder Bob Stupak, is challenging Democratic incumbent Myrna Williams in District E. Stupak, a Democrat, previously ran against Las Vegas City Councilman Gary Reese, coming just 139 votes shy of victory in 1999.

Former Clark County School Board trustee Lois Tarkanian filed Monday to run for University Regent. Tarkanian, a Democrat and wife of former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, is running against Democratic businessman Robert Forbuss for the District 2 seat.