Nolan beats Lamuraglia to take over O’Donnell’s seat

Jeffrey Libby

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002 | 8:34 a.m.

Forty-one-year-old Republican Dennis Nolan ended what he called the longest year of his life Tuesday night.

He beat Terry Lamuraglia comfortably for Senate District 9, taking 54 percent of the vote to Lamuraglia's 43 percent. The seat was left open by the retirement of Republican Bill O'Donnell. Independent American John Lusk won another 3 percent of the vote.

"It's been very difficult," said Nolan, who squeezed by heavily backed gaming lobbyist Richard Bunker in the Republican primary. "It was a tough fight against my own party. But that struggle helped me. There were probably some Democrats who said, 'He can't be that bad.' "

Nolan acknowledged, however, that he won't be able to come through on his pledge in the primary to wrest northern power from state Sen. Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno.

"When you talk about power, of leadership and chairmanships, you have to have people in position to do that," Nolan said. "We don't have it this year, but the writing is on the wall. The northern part of the state realizes it's only a matter of time."

Nolan, a four-term assemblyman and consultant for American Transportation Co. mass transit, said he will try to fill O'Donnell's chairmanship of the Transportation Committee to help accommodate Southern Nevada's growth. District 9's needs are much like the rest of Clark County, he said.

Lamuraglia, a Clark County special projects coordinator making his first run at public office, also told voters he would wrest power from Raggio. He said Nolan knew all along that a Republican couldn't bring power south from within the party. The power shift required a Democratic majority, Lamuraglia said.

"Look at the numbers. We do live in Las Vegas," Lamuraglia said. "His word is not good."

Senate District 9's needs are also uniquely diverse, Lamuraglia said. Sandy Valley, unlike most other parts of Clark County, needs protection for its private wells.

That protection may not be Lamuraglia's responsibility for now, but he said he will be back.

"I'm real proud of the family and friends that helped me from Day 1," Lamuraglia said. "I would love to participate in the process again."