Schofield will battle Aguirre

Jennifer Knight

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

One-time tennis coach turned educational consultant Aldo Aguirre will meet World War II combat pilot and seasoned politician Jack Schofield in the Board of Regents race in District 5.

Schofield was the top vote-getter in Tuesday's primary at 54.2 percent, followed by Aguirre with 34.5 percent. Donald Fondriasopolous came in third with 11.4 percent and will not go on to the November election.

Aguirre, 42, began his academic career as a tennis coach and later gained experience as an adjunct instructor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas working as an educational consultant for the state.

Schofield, 79, is running for his third state seat. He served as an assemblyman from 1970 to 1974 and state senator from 1974 to 1978. He was a combat pilot in the 14th Air Force Flying Tigers, serving in China, Burma and India during World War II.

Incumbent Regent Thalia Dondero led the Board of Regents race in District 3, followed by challenger Paul Aizley, setting up a runoff in November's general election.

Dondero, a former county commissioner, is ending her first six-year term on the board, which oversees the University and Community College System of Nevada.

Aizley, 66, has focused his campaign on making the university system more fiscally accountable, taking issue with what he calls a "top-heavy administration."

Dondero, 81, has made a name for herself as a faculty advocate and has sought to increase access to higher education for Nevada students.

Andre Yates was the third candidate on the ballot, but pulled out of the race early.

The three-way race in District 12 is now down to candidates Stavros Anthony and Jeff Knight.

Andres Ramirez got 13.5 percent of the vote.

Anthony, a 45-year-old Metro Police captain, describes himself as a public servant with an "earnest desire to advance higher education." He believes that job cannot be done without regents securing adequate funds for higher education.

Anthony has his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and has one child preparing to attend the University of Nevada, Reno. The 22-year Metro veteran also teaches at UNLV and the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Knight, 30, a small-business owner, said his goal is "to increase the quality and access of higher education in our great state."

The early exit of Lois Tarkanian from the District 2 race cleared the way for Robert Forbuss and Bret Whipple to square off in the general election.

Forbuss, 54, a former Clark County School District trustee, says he wants to help the university system function more efficiently while bringing classrooms up to date in technology and other areas.

Whipple, 36, a CPA and lawyer, says he wants to make sure Nevada's universities are ready for the new millennium and to ensure that students have access to an affordable college education.