Election 2002: 1st Congressional District

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 | 10:48 a.m.

Incumbent Shelley Berkley gained a reputation as a fighter during the House debate on a nuclear dump at Yucca Mountain.

Now running for her third term, the Democrat is facing another public official with a reputation for putting up a good fight in the race for the redrawn district.

Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald, a Republican, said she decided to challenge Berkley because "not only is this district winnable, but it's winnable by Lynette."

Also on the ballot are Green Party candidate W. Lane Startin and Independent American Steven "Capt. Truth" Dempsey.

Despite their reputations for political battle, the two main-party candidates differ widely on the issues.

Berkley, 51, is a committed supporter of public education. She faults the Bush administration for cutting money for dropout prevention programs. She says school vouchers "erode public schools."

Boggs McDonald, 39, owner of LBM Consulting, supports vouchers for private education "as a last resort" and is a strong supporter of charter schools.

On the economy Berkley points to her record of voting for an economic stimulus package after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The package provided extended unemployment and COBRA benefits for 16,000 laid-off workers in Southern Nevada.

Boggs McDonald criticizes Berkley's record, noting that her votes did not help small businesses, which are "the largest employment base in the district."

Startin, 29, is a software analyst. He supports campaign finance reform, corporate accountability and the protection of individual rights and civil liberties.

Dempsey said he is about 50 years old, and is a paralegal and lymphologist. He said the national health care and judicial systems are a fraud.