Experience pays off for incumbent Williams

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002 | 9:14 a.m.

For months, Democrat Myrna Williams has balked at the notion that constituents opt for a fresh face after an elected official has served years in the same office.

On Tuesday voters also balked at the idea. Williams won nearly 50 percent of the votes in District E, easily breezing past opponents Nevada Stupak and Tony Badillo.

The two-term Clark County commissioner ran a quiet campaign, relying on her reputation to earn her another four years on the seven-member board.

"I've always trusted the voters, and I'm pleased with how it turned out," said Williams, who collected 3,870 votes. "The people in this district know what I've started and what I've done and what I'm going to continue to do."

While Williams banked on her accomplishments, Nevada Stupak relied on name recognition -- his father is Stratosphere creator Bob Stupak -- and played off a gambling theme.

In his most recent campaign advertisement, Stupak appeared in a photo next to former world poker champion Puggy Pearson, who is shown cheerfully pointing at the commission candidate. The caption above says, "Vote for Nevada Stupak ... He'll do us proud ... You can bet on it!"

The 27-year-old Stupak, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday, captured 2,901 or 34 percent of the votes; Badillo collected 1,663 or nearly 20 percent. Williams, who faces retired university professor John Stanhagen, 70, in the general election, said she has no plans to change her campaign strategy.

"The things I have moving speak for themselves," she said.

The 72-year-old commissioner's popularity has stemmed partially from her work for senior citizens and the expansion of the Cambridge Community Center. A new primary care clinic at the center will be the Las Vegas Valley's first to treat uninsured patients, she said.

Though Williams' older, heavily populated district is made up mostly of senior citizens, she has also catered to younger residents. Williams said a skateboard facility is in the works, as is a 160-acre regional park.

Williams also fought against transporting nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain and spearheaded efforts to install flood control infrastructure in neighborhoods.

The race for the District E seat was quiet until Badillo tried to dethrone Williams using an ethics complaint.

Badillo accused Williams of using her position to unfairly gain an advantage in the election after her picture appeared in a brochure for the Las Vegas Valley Water District, which Williams heads as board president. The state ethics review panel tossed the case.

No primary election was held for the District G seat left vacant by Dario Herrera, who is running for a seat in the 3rd Congressional District. Democrat Rory Reid, Independent American William Boyd Ballard II and Robert Tauber, a Republican, will face each other in the Nov. 5 general election.