Republicans keep grip as majority party

Jeffrey Libby

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002 | 8:35 a.m.

In a night of victories for their party, Clark County state Senate Republicans grabbed an edge where previously there had been a split.

District 12, a seat that came south to Clark County as part of redistricting for population shifts, went to Republican Warren Hardy, a lobbyist, former assemblyman and president of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Southern Nevada. He crushed two artisans, taking 63 percent of the vote.

Adriana Martinez, a photographer and Democrat, earned 34 percent of the vote. Independent American Leon Catlett, a woodworker, received 3 percent.

Hardy's victory gives Republicans a 4-3 majority in Clark County, adding to a majority they already enjoyed statewide.

In District 5, another race Democrats had invested hopes in, five-term assemblywoman and small business owner Sandra Tiffany handily defeated state Board of Education member John Hawk.

Tiffany, a Republican, won 57 percent of the vote, preserving the seat vacated by Republican incumbent Jon Porter in his successful run for Congress. Democrat Hawk took 43 percent of the vote.

Tiffany's victory, like Dennis Nolan's in District 9, helped Republicans maintain the state Senate majority.

In four other Clark County state Senate races, incumbents and those with previous state political experience prevailed. There were no upsets.

In District 8, another comfortable race for Republicans, three-term Assemblywoman Barbara Cegavske defeated Democrat Kristen Hansen, preserving the seat held previously by Mark James, who ran successfully for Clark County Commission. Cegavske took 63 percent, Hansen 37 percent.

In District 2, Democratic incumbent Maggie Carlton, a casino waitress, defeated Augostin "Tino" Mendoza, who lost his fourth attempt at the seat. Carlton won 67 percent, Mendoza 33 percent.

Democratic incumbent Bob Coffin crushed Republican Daniel Guinn in District 10, 67 percent to 33 percent.

State Democratic Party Chairman Terry Care ran unopposed in District 7, winning his second term.