Friday, Oct. 25, 2002 | 11:17 a.m.
Debate The debate between Lorraine Hunt and Erin Kenny will be rebroadcast on Las Vegas ONE, cable channels 1 and 39 at 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday and at 4 p.m.Sunday.
A debate between Shelley Berkley and Lynette Boggs McDonald will air live Sunday at 5:30 p.m. on KLAS-TV, Channel 8.
Bruising from negative television ads, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt came out firing in a televised debate Thursday night,calling her Democratic opponent a liar who practices "gutter politics" and has a history of failed businesses.
Erin Kenny, a Clark County Commissioner, defended her television ads and accused Hunt of taking credit for things beyond her control.
During the debate on Las Vegas ONE -- a partnership of the Las Vegas Sun, KLAS-TV and Cox Communications -- the women sparred over the ads and ways to address the state's problems.
Hunt said she was opposed to the proposed gross receipts business tax, because she said it would hurt small businesses.
Kenny would not answer definitively on the tax, saying only that it has support and seems "more reasonable" than a sales tax hike.
In response to a question about a candidate pledge she signed related to Question 2, Kenny said she has "never changed her position."
As a county commissioner Kenny pushed to put domestic partnership benefits onto the agenda for discussion. The pledge states that those benefits should be for married couples only.
Kenny glanced at her binder and read the language from the ballot question, saying she supports that. When read the language from the pledge Kenny said only that it was "vague."
Hunt, a Republican, said that while she supports Question 2, she did not sign the pledge "because it went beyond the spirit of Question 2."
Hunt was most animated when she discussed the "horrific" ad Kenny is running against her showing an older waitress and saying Hunt lobbied for a tip bill that "took money from my pocket."
"Shame on Erin for trying to scare people," Hunt said.
She called another ad, one that discusses her recent statements supporting the investment of state pension fund money in Nevada as opposed to other states, "really disingenuous and bizarre."
Kenny said the tip bill was pushed by the Nevada Restaurant Association, of which Hunt was a part at the time.
"They're lies," Hunt said. "I was not a lobbyist. I was not there."
On the pension issue, Hunt said she does support investing some of the money in the state, but added she is not for diverting any money from the fund.
Kenny said she objected to that proposal because "it is too great of a risk." She also said she was worried about possible political influence being exerted on the investment board.
"Maybe she's judging others as she would herself about using influence," Hunt said.
When the two had an opportunity to question each other, Kenny suggested Hunt supported drunken driving because she lobbied in 1993 against a proposal to reduce the state's blood alcohol content from .10 to .08, and because she has taken money from those who lobbied with her against the bill.
Hunt answered that she was lobbying on behalf of the hospitality industry which "didn't want to penalize social drinkers." She also said her aunt was killed by a drunk driver and she was "insulted" by the question.
During her response Hunt deflected the campaign contribution allegation by mentioning the money Kenny has taken from the billboard and waste disposal industry.
Kenny responded: "Billboards and garbage don't kill people, drunk drivers do."
Hunt asked Kenny to defend the tip bill ad, saying "I've had enough of your lies and distortions."
Kenny read from a transcript of the legislative committee quoting the Nevada Resort Association but never mentioning Hunt's tie.
"Erin has a wonderful ability not to answer questions," Hunt rebutted.
Kenny also asked why Hunt approved a $600,000 exemption for Custom Services International which offers an average hourly wage of $12.20, which Kenny said was well below the $26-an-hour wage Hunt's office proclaims to be the average for new businesses.
"In the rurals, sometimes, $10 an hour is a good thing," Hunt answered. "Erin has no concept of business or business principles."
Kenny rebutted angrily that "you've done nothing but yell at me and call me a liar."
Kenny said a business she had with her father when she was 23 failed and that they declared bankruptcy to save her father's home from creditors. She said she has successfully run businesses since then, and said she helped her husband -- a chiropractor -- open three businesses and a school in Nevada.
Hunt's next question began: "Let's talk about another one of your failures." She reiterated a question from panelist Jon Ralston about Kenny serving as president of the University Medical Center board during a time in which the hospital is reportedly $20 million to $40 million in debt.
"Where's the leadership?" Hunt asked. "Where have you been?"
Hunt also suggested an audit of the county hospital was not being released until after the election.
Kenny said audits are routinely released at the end of October and that since the county had to change auditors -- from Arthur Andersen to Deloitte & Touche -- there has been further delay.
Kenny attributed the hospital's problems to the layoffs after Sept. 11, 2001, and the strain uninsured workers put on the health care system.
archive
