Election 2002: District Attorney

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2002 | 11:07 a.m.

Clark County residents who cast ballots for district attorney are being asked to decide more than which candidate they like -- they are being asked to define the job.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger, a 15-year veteran, contends he is best qualified because he is a career prosecutor who has put notable people such as Jose Vigoa, Sandy Murphy and Rick Tabish behind bars for life.

"The times have changed, and we have significant challenges in front of us in law enforcement," Roger, a Republican, said. "I believe a career prosecutor should be the chief law enforcement officer in Clark County, and I don't believe a chief administrator can fill those shoes."

Assistant District Attorney Mike Davidson, who joined the office four years ago, insists he is the more well-rounded candidate, with experience managing the complex office.

Davidson, a Democrat who oversees the office's civil division, spent 20 years in private practice handling both civil and criminal cases. He said he understands every division within the office and is responsible for providing defense and civil advice to all county agencies.

Davidson also has experience as a small-claims and juvenile-court referee and a Supreme Court settlement judge.

"David is an honest guy and an excellent prosecutor, but there are 135 other prosecutors just like him," Davidson said. "He's never supervised anyone, and he has no leadership skills."

Davidson said recent comments by Roger prove his opponent is ill-equipped to handle the job's responsibilities.

In recent debates Roger claimed the new Regional Justice Center is more than a year behind schedule because Davidson failed to monitor its construction.

"The fact he apparently doesn't know that the district attorney's office doesn't build buildings, nor does it supervise the building of buildings, is significant," Davidson said. "Seventy percent of the office is foreign to him."

And while Davidson admits he has never prosecuted a criminal, the assistant district attorney said he spent 13 years defending people.

"The fact I've seen courtrooms from all sides gives me a perspective he can't have," Davidson said.

Roger said it is clear why many law enforcement officers have thrown their support his way, noting most organizations -- including the 1,200-member Las Vegas Police Protective Association -- have endorsed him.

Davidson said he believes it is noteworthy that many leaders have endorsed him. Among them, he said, are Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., held a fund-raiser for him.

Roger said he would also like to focus on repeat offenders -- the 20 percent of the people who commit 80 percent of crimes.

Davidson said he plans to continue improving child-support collection and work on the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.

Independent American Joel Hansen said if he is elected he will seek the death penalty when appropriate, support truth in sentencing laws and work to stop the early release of violent criminals.

Trial attorney Hansen has handled criminal cases and a variety of civil cases including those involving malpractice, insurance coverage disputes, insurance fraud and personal injuries.