Clark County School District, B

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2004 | 3:35 a.m.

For Clark County School Board's District B seat, incumbent Ruth Johnson faces three challengers: Troy Bulloch, Lester Lewis and Marian Umhoefer.

First elected in 1996, Johnson holds an associate's degree in textiles and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Brigham Young University. She also completed post-graduate work in elementary education, served on the Clark County Debt Management Commission and the Las Vegas Master Plan Steering Committee.

Johnson, 44, is a mother of four who does freelance design and community volunteer work. She said her goals are accountability, managing the district's rapid growth and improving student achievement. The district needs to continue its successful building program by remaining on time and within budget, she said.

Bulloch ran unsuccessfully against Johnson four years ago. A Southern Nevada native, Bulloch, 33, a casino general manager, has an associate's degree in business management from the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Bulloch, who has two children, is in favor of breaking up the district to improve accountability and accessibility. Most people know their city council and county commission representatives but not their school trustee, he said.

A Las Vegas native, Lewis is running as part of the slate seeking to replace Superintendent Carlos Garcia and dismantle the School Board's governance style. He has been critical of the district's attendance zone and busing policies and has advocated that a comprehensive high school be built to serve the predominately black West Las Vegas.

According to Lewis, 35, the current board has failed to build concensus or demonstrate accountability to parents or lawmakers. Lewis, who has one child, said he is concerned that Clark County students continue to fare poorly when compared to Northern Nevada students, as well as their counterparts nationwide.

Lewis is a University of Maryland graduate with a bachelor's degree in computer information science who now works as a senior network analyst.

Umhoefer, 65, has been a Las Vegas resident since 1995. She earned an associate's degree from the Community College of Southern Nevada and works as a freelance photographer for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

If elected, Umhoefer said she will aim for a positive attitude while being a responsible trustee. She was an active volunteer when her own children were in school and considers herself knowledgeable about issues surrounding the school district.