Editorial: Sun’s choices in the Senate

Friday, Oct. 18, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.

The Sun offers its endorsements in the state Senate races in Southern Nevada: Districts 2, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12. Democratic Sen. Terry Care in District 7 doesn't have an opponent so he is automatically re-elected.

State Sen. Maggie Carlton, a Democrat running in District 2, has been a consistent voice for Southern Nevadans on a wide range of issues, whether she's advocating for better consumer protections or improvements in local schools. The Sun endorses Maggie Carlton. In District 5, Republican Sandra Tiffany is facing a tough opponent in John Hawk, a Democrat who is a respected member of the state Board of Education. But Tiffany has more experience and is the better candidate -- and she's shown as a state assemblywoman that she will take on her own party's leadership. The Sun endorses Sandra Tiffany.

The experience Republican Barbara Cegavske gained during her three terms in the Assembly would serve her well in the state Senate representing District 8. We don't always agree with her on the issues, but we admire her willingness to spend more for education and other vital services. The Sun endorses Barbara Cegavske.

The race in Senate District 9, an open seat, poses a tough choice. Republican Dennis Nolan has been solid as a state assemblyman, but Democrat Terry Lamuraglia is one of the strongest legislative candidates this year. This contest also is one that could decide what party controls the state Senate, which currently is run by Republicans. A vote for Lamuraglia would be a vote for better health care and more support for education, because those are issues that the GOP leadership hasn't looked upon kindly. Even if a Lamuraglia victory doesn't tip the scales so that Democrats control the Senate, it at least could make the Senate more evenly divided, so that issues such as education and health care get their due. The Sun endorses Terry Lamuraglia.

In Senate District 10, the Legislature is well served by the experience of Bob Coffin, who has been a prominent and productive legislator for more than 20 years. The Sun endorses Bob Coffin. Voters cannot go wrong in Senate District 12 by voting for either Republican Warren Hardy, a former state assemblyman, or Democrat Adriana Martinez, a political newcomer but astute on the issues and a passionate supporter of schools.