Newcomer Atkinson ousts longtime state Assemblyman Price

Steve Kanigher and Erin Neff

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002 | 11:12 a.m.

One of the state's longest-serving lawmakers was ousted in a Democratic primary Tuesday by an energetic political newcomer who ran an aggressive grass-roots campaign.

Challenger Kelvin Atkinson defeated Assemblyman Bob Price, D-North Las Vegas, 63 percent to 37 percent in the newly reshaped District 17.

"Assembly districts are like no other races when it comes to grass-roots campaigns," said Atkinson, who was in the second grade when Price was first elected in 1974. "I knew I would have to outwork Price, and the single thing that did that for me was walking door to door and canvassing the district. I knew he was not going to be able to do that, because he had health problems."

Price, 66, was famous in Carson City for holding court on the subject of aliens at Area 51. He looked lost at Democratic headquarters as the election numbers began trickling in. He was behind all night.

"I'm obviously very disappointed," he said.

Atkinson, 33, is the neighborhood liaison for Clark County Commissioner and congressional candidate Dario Herrera.

Atkinson vowed to improve education, manage growth, keep doctors in Nevada and make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors. He was endorsed by Culinary Union Local 226, though he said that endorsement should carry more weight in the general election.

Like other legislative districts that were reshaped last year, District 17 experienced major changes. The district was moved farther north and west so that it extended to Indian Springs. That forced Price to move a recreational vehicle within the reshaped district in order to maintain a legal residence there.

"I found that the district hadn't been walked," Atkinson said. "Having a candidate come to the door meant a lot to people. I was going door to door in 115-degree weather. The district's constituency changed by more than 67 percent and most of the people didn't know he (Price) was."

Price, who said he intends to build a new home in the district, was gracious in defeat and threw his support behind Atkinson.

"Kelvin to me seems like a very nice young man, and if somebody's going to replace me, I'm glad it's a nice young Democrat," Price said. "Tonight we saw the system at work. ... even when it doesn't turn out the way we want."

Price, a retired electrician, was chairman of the Assembly Constitutional Amendments Committee and also served on the Elections, Procedures and Ethics, Government Affairs and Taxation committees.

Atkinson will now face Republican Luis Valera, a 28-year-old financial adviser, who said he hopes to attract Hispanic voters in a district with a moderate Democratic voter registration edge.

"I'm going to just keep walking the district," Valera said. "We've got the money raised and what's going to win this race is shoe leather."