Little change seen for Capitol

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002 | 9:24 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Republican sweep of constitutional offices has prompted speculation that there won't be many new faces or policies in state government in the next four years.

The only new kid on the block will be Republican Brian Sandoval, who succeeds Democratic Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, who is retiring.

Del Papa, despite being in the party opposite Gov. Kenny Guinn, rarely criticizes him publicly. The governor even named a state building after her.

Sandoval said he is going to be independent because that's the way the job must be handled. He will serve with Guinn on the three-member state Board of Examiners and the state Prison Board. The other member is Secretary of State Dean Heller.

Guinn donated $10,000 to the Sandoval campaign, but the attorney general-elect says that was a small part of his $1.3 million war chest. Sandoval said Guinn never appeared on a television ad for him because he wanted to win the race on his own.

The other Republican winners were Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Treasurer Brian Krolicki and Controller Kathy Augustine.

Guinn's landslide win over state Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, was by an impressive 68 percent to 22 percent margin.

The record in a Nevada governor's race in the modern era was set in 1974, when Mike O'Callaghan defeated Republican Shirley Crumpler by a margin of 67 percent to 17 percent.

Guinn didn't make many changes in top personnel when he first won election four years ago and he's expected to keep the same cabinet.

"The governor is very satisfied with the team he's got," Guinn's Chief of Staff Marybel Batjer said.

Guinn plans a cabinet meeting Nov. 14 to outline some of his plans and policies, Batjer said.

The governor has a full agenda with the budget and the need for new taxes, she said.

Eric Herzik, a political scientist at the University of Nevada, Reno, expects the other constitutional officers to stay in line with Guinn during the next two years. All of them except Sandoval are in their final terms -- and they will be looking to move up in four years.

"Dean Heller has got to make a name for himself, by going his own way," Herzik said "And he's never been shy about that."

Heller said he intends to run for another political office in four years but has not decided which office.

"I don't see Sandoval breaking away," Herzik said. "He would carry the Guinn line. And the same goes for Lorraine Hunt."

Although Del Papa backed Democrat John Hunt in the race for attorney general, she said she wants to provide a smooth transition for Sandoval. She said she had a cordial conversation with Sandoval on Wednesday.