Washington overcomes legal woes to keep District 2

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002 | 8:33 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- State Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, celebrating his re-election to a third term, joked, "Even jailbirds can fly."

Washington and the three other incumbent state senators in Northern Nevada all won re-election Tuesday.

Democrats had targeted Washington for defeat and campaigned on his troubles with minor law infractions.

But Washington defeated Joe Carter, a 55-year-old railroad engineer from Sparks who was making his first run for public office. The Senate District 2 seat covers Washoe, Lyon and Storey counties. Washington received 56 percent of the vote.

The victory by Washington and the win by Republican Dennis Nolan in a senate race in Clark County assure the GOP of holding on to its 12-9 majority in the Senate. The GOP has held that majority since the 1993 Senate.

State Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, defeated Independent American Mark Holloman 75 to 24 percent; state Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, beat Independent American David Shumann 82-17 percent; and state Sen. Bernice Mathews, D-Reno, trounced Independent American Carolyn Bauer 74-26 percent.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, has called for a meeting of the Republican Senators Thursday in Reno. Raggio is expected to be chosen majority leader again.