Three incumbents hold onto their jobs

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002 | 8:32 a.m.

While three incumbent Clark County department heads will keep their jobs come January, two other divisions will receive new leadership.

Clark County Assessor Mark Schoefield earned his third term Tuesday by breezing past his Republican opponent, 26-year-old Jonathon Galaviz. Schoefield took 64 percent of the votes; Galaviz collected 36 percent.

Schoefield was first elected to office in 1994 and has worked in the assessor's office since 1975.

Laura Fitzpatrick, who was first appointed to treasurer in 1998, overcame a surprisingly tight race against Republican Lewis Byer. Fitzpatrick received 55 percent, Byer took 40 percent of the votes and Independent American Party member Rebecca Perry collected 5 percent.

Shirley Parraguirre overcame a field of three to hold onto her job as county clerk. The Democrat took 56 percent of the votes, Republican Gilbert Avila received 38 percent, Independent American Dawn Pizzorno Hansen collected 4 percent and Natural Law candidate Christy Russell received 2 percent.

Clark County appraiser Jared Schafer stepped down from office after 23 years with Clark County. A bevy of diverse candidates hopped into the race for the position that carries a salary of $72,000.

Dan Ahlstrom, a 58-year-old chief deputy district attorney, overcame a field that included high school student Anna Kjorvestad, Green Party member and UNLV professor Bob Parker and Republican District Court recorder Paula Walsh.

Ahlstrom's most competitive opponent was Walsh, who received 43 percent of the votes compared to Ahlstrom's 51 percent. Kjorvestad and Parker each received about 3 percent of the vote.

Employees in the county treasurer's office have been eager for a new boss, and Tuesday night voters delivered Frances "Fran" Deane, a 39-year-old Republican. The mortgage banker won by collecting 50 percent of the votes. She defeated Democrat Anita Springs (41 percent), Independent Party member Gregory Hansen (6 percent) and Green Party candidate Brandi Harrington (3 percent).

A multimillion-dollar state-of-the-art computer system scheduled to be installed in the recorder's office will give Deane a head start in catching up with recording documents. The office is months behind in the task.

Clark County commissioners opted to hold off on installing the new system until the new recorder takes office in January.