Senate District 4

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004 | 2:05 a.m.

For 32 years, Joe Neal held the District 4 seat, carved to give blacks a voice in the Senate.

Now that he is leaving the post, the Democratic primary to fill his shoes is crowded and intense. Neal has endorsed university system Regent Linda Howard, but four other Democrats are also vying for the post.

The candidates are:

Cedric Crear, 35, a telecommunications consultant.

Crear grew up in the district, and his father was the state's second black doctor. Crear, who grew up helping his father in his office, was touched by how his father made a difference in many people's lives.

"If you had $20 in your pocket and the office visit was $30, it's not like you weren't going to the doctor," Crear said.

Crear would focus on curbing growth and traffic congestion; giving incentives to re-energize declining areas and create urban renewal; and obtaining affordable and quality health care.

Steven Horsford, 31, Nevada Partners chief executive.

Horsford is active in the Democratic Party and has worked in the past as an intern and lobbyist at the Legislature.

Horsford oversees the Culinary Training Academy and wants to focus on job training to attract high-paying jobs to the area.

"One distinction I have over my opponents is I am the strongest Democrat, and I'm a Democrat that will fight the Republican efforts to weaken education, to take our water, to not provide quality affordable health care," Horsford said.

Howard, 48, a consultant.

Howard has run on the ballot in many parts of the district when she unseated an incumbent to be elected to the Board of Regents.

Howard wants to make education funding a priority, aiming to better Nevada's graduation rate, bolster test scores and retain teachers and students. She also points out that the district has a disproportionately high unemployment rate and wants to obtain additional incentives for businesses to come to Nevada and her district.

"The people in this district seem to like people who have principles," Howard said, referring to the outgoing Neal.

Bert Mack, 57, an attorney.

Mack first tasted the legislative process after graduating from Old College Nevada School of Law in Reno and served as an intern for the Legislature and the lieutenant governor's office.

Mack says his experience of owning several small businesses and his time in the Army "gives me the tools that I would need to make the decisions that have to be made in Carson City for this constituency."

Theresa "Terri" Malone, 52, a property manager and computer instructor.

Malone has a 100 percent attendance and voting record in her four years on the state Board of Education and has made her "proven honesty and ability" a cornerstone of her message.

Malone was a special assistant to her husband, former Sen. Mike Malone and has lobbied at the Legislature. As a business owner she said she understands that the state needs a well-educated job force and a business- friendly economy.

"One of my main goals is to continually keep as secure as possible Nevada's economy and, with that, the promotion of jobs and the promotion of the best education possible," she said.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Mabel F. Lucier.