Cyphers formidable foe in Ward 1

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, March 19, 2003 | 11:03 a.m.

Steve Kirk

Age: 44.

Occupation: Sales representative for Lason Systems, Inc., a document management firm, and city councilman for past four years.

Education: Brigham Young University, bachelor of science in design engineering technology.

Note: Because Kirk is the only candidate to file for the Ward 4 council seat, he is automatically declared elected and will not appear on the city ballot.

Edward Molitoris

Age: 47.

Occupation: Clark County building inspector.

Education: Attended Community College of Southern Nevada. Endorsements: None so far.

Amanda Cyphers

Age: 36.

Occupation: Councilwoman for past eight years.

Education: Completing Child Development Associates certification program through the National Council of Professional Recognition in Washington, D.C.

Endorsements: Henderson Firefighters Association, Henderson Chamber of Commerce, Southern Nevada Labor Council, Henderson Police Officers Association, Service Employees International Union Local 1107.

Ann Barron

Age: 54.

Occupation: National Kidney Foundation of Nevada, executive director.

Education: Attended University of North Carolina and University of Arizona.

Endorsements: None so far.

Trying to unseat any incumbent in a city election is difficult, and it's even more so when the incumbent took 73 percent of the vote in her last election.

But that's the challenge facing the candidates hoping to replace Henderson City Councilwoman Amanda Cyphers in Ward 1.

Ann Barron says name recognition should help level the field.

Barron was the city's economic development director from 1984 to 1998, and ran for council unsuccessfully four years ago against Councilman Andy Hafen. Since then the ward boundaries have been redrawn and now Barron lives in Ward 1 with Cyphers. Henderson council members are elected at large but must reside in separate wards.

Barron also says Cyphers has lost touch with Henderson residents and their concerns.

The third candidate in the race, Edward Molitoris, is a Clark County building inspector who admits his campaign platform might be unpopular with some voters. Molitoris favors turning Yucca Mountain into the nation's nuclear waste dump and he's against fast growth.

But it might not matter what issues the challengers raise. After being re-elected with 73 percent of the vote four years ago, Cyphers is the heavy favorite to win again, said David Damore, an assistant political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

"The 73 percent is a sign of a pretty secure district ... even if it was four years ago," Damore said.

Cyphers says her last showing is evidence she listens to voters and they know it.

"Why did I win with 73 percent? Because I listen," she said.

But Barron says Cyphers should have tried to have the Nevada State College at Henderson built in downtown Henderson instead of on Dawson Avenue off U.S. 95, in the southern part of town.

"She should have at least represented the concerns of the neighbors," Barron said.

Cyphers said she did meet with neighbors of the young college. Putting the college downtown would have been too expensive, she said.

Cyphers said if she's re-elected, she will try to guide growth so newly developed parts of the city include a mix of land uses, with transition zones so heavily residential areas are not next door to intensive commercial zones.

Her opponents say growth may have to be slowed.

Molitoris says the city is growing too fast and developers should be forced to find water from somewhere other than Lake Mead.

Barron said, "We may need to slow down and make sure we have enough water."

Cyphers, who is also the chairwoman of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said water is an issue, but she believes Southern Nevada will have access to more water after a water desalination plant is built in California sometime in the future.

Damore, who specializes in campaign politics, said Molitoris' call for slower growth could draw voters in fast-growing Henderson. However, his stand on Yucca Mountain will probably work against him.

Cyphers and Barron both stand on the other side of the Yucca battle.

"I am certainly against Yucca Mountain and I feel most people are," Cyphers said.

Molitoris says he knows his view is an unpopular one.

But he says there's no stopping the nuclear waste from coming to Yucca Mountain, so local government representatives may as well negotiate for money and other concessions in return for the dump.

"That's how I feel. What you see is what you get," he said.

The candidates are vying for a part-time position that pays $37,095 a year, plus a $600 a month car allowance.