Assembly District 37

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004 | 2:39 a.m.

One Republican will emerge from the Assembly District 37 primary to challenge Democratic incumbent Marcus Conklin, who does not have a primary opponent.

The two Republicans who will battle each other in the primary are Scott Anderson, 35, and Sandra Vitolo, 55.

Anderson is a Realtor who listed limiting taxes and tackling the issues of development, ethics, education and health care as his priorities.

Vitolo is a retired Air Force chief master sergeant who listed similar issues -- taxes, education and health care -- as priorities.

Anderson said he has some experience in politics, having worked behind-the-scenes in various minor campaigns.

Anderson also said he supports a cap on malpractice awards as a way of dealing with health care costs and doctor retention.

He also wants to work to prevent flooding that occurs during intense storms. During the August 2003 flood, the worst damage came in the northwest portion of the district, he said.

Vitolo wrote on her Web site that she wants to concentrate on issues that will take center stage next legislative session: tax reform, education funding, access and affordability to medical care, and corruption.

She was involved in a challenge in 2002 of Conklin's election victory, claiming that up to 160 votes were cast fraudulently in the race Conklin won by 134 votes. That challenge was later thrown out. At the time, Vitolo was described in newspaper accounts as a political novice, and some Democrats said her complaint was really instigated by Republican operatives.

The district has 7,434 registered Democrats to 6,178 registered Republicans.