It’s Cegavske vs. Hansen in Senate District 8

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002 | 11:22 a.m.

Voters who were at times given confusing messages about the two Republicans seeking the Senate District 8 seat didn't have much trouble siding with Assemblywoman Barbara Cegavske.

Cegavske, 50, beat out conservative trial attorney Tom Christensen with 56 percent of the vote to earn the right to take on Democrat Kristen Hansen, who bested pool contractor Ed Portello with 66 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary.

"I think this was the toughest thing for me -- this primary," Cegavske said, celebrating the win at her home. "I still have work to do, but I've already been door to door and that will help me in the general as well."

Cegavske, 50, Assistant Assembly Minority Leader who was first elected in 1996, jumped into the Senate race when Mark James decided not to seek re-election early this year.

Christensen, 46, had appealed to conservative voters by making the so-called protection of marriage initiative one of the foundations of his platform. He was endorsed by the Clark County GOP even before James announced he wasn't running.

The race focused at times on medical malpractice, with Cegavske leading the call for tort reform and criticizing her opponent's profession as the main reason for the crisis.

Christensen said he was a Republican before he was a trial lawyer and said his law firm's seven attorneys have sued fewer than 10 doctors for malpractice since 1985.

Both candidates also turned to Gov. Kenny Guinn for backing; Christensen mailed out literature with a supporting quote from Guinn, countered by a similar Cegavske mailer with Guinn's support days later.

Cegavske said she thought voters saw past the advertisements.

"Constituents looked at all of the issues and what the candidates stood for," Cegavske said.

Christensen said his losing bid was "worth the effort."

"I wanted to give voters of District 8 a choice," he said, watching the results from his home.

"It was worth trying."

Hansen, 53, owns Kristen & Friends Manufacturers' Representative Sales Group. She previously ran unsuccessfully for Assembly District 5 and said she will focus on education and diversifying Nevada's economy.

There are roughly 3,000 more Republicans than Democrats in the 43,000-voter district.