Assembly District 1

Thursday, Aug. 19, 2004 | 8:32 a.m.

Eight candidates -- three Democrats and five Republicans -- are battling for the open seat in Assembly District 1.

Democrat Assemblyman Tom Collins had represented the district since 1992, but is running for the Clark County Commission.

Candidates Ricki Y. Barlow, Brent Howard, and Marilyn Kirkpatrick will face off in the Democratic primary.

Republicans Shane Byrne, Bill Dolan, Ed Gobel, Douglas Opolka and Steven M. Saul square off in their party's primary.

Peggie M. Williams is the Independent American Party candidate, so will automatically appear on the general-election ballot. Williams received 6.2 percent of the November 2002 vote.

Howard, 47, founder and owner of BHI Bookkeeping, Payroll, Income Tax and Insurance, said there needs to be more communication between state lawmakers and voters. He wants the Legislature to meet at least once every six months.

Kirkpatrick, 37, is a sales executive for local food distribution companies and is a former member of the North Las Vegas Planning Commission. She has also been involved with the Parent-Teacher Association and other civic groups.

Education is Kirkpatrick's primary issue. She said she will fight for more after-school programs and safer, better schools.

Barlow did not return a Sun questionnaire seeking comments for this story. Republicans Byrne and Opolka also did not return questionnaires for this story.

Saul, 44, is the owner of Desert Rose Carpet Cleaning and says he served one term in the Texas Senate while in college.

Saul said he would work to reduce taxes by pushing for the state to adopt a property tax- limiting law similar to California's Proposition 13. He also said he would work for tort reform and to stop funding an "out-of-control educational bureaucracy" and shift more money to teachers.

Dolan, 50, is a cardiovascular surgical nurse who has been active in homeowners associations and the Clark County Republican Party.

Dolan said health care reform is needed, and with his work experience he is especially qualified to address the issue. He also said the education system needs to be restructured, and education funding should be among the first matters the Assembly addresses.

Gobel, 54, chief executive of Gobel Lowden Veterans Center & Museum in Las Vegas, is a Vietnam War veteran who is active in several veterans organizations.

Gobel said he would work to lower healthcare costs by allowing residents to choose what specific ailments they want coverage for; establish a program to teach gun safety in schools; cap property assessment increases to the rate of inflation; and reform laws for airports. Gobel has been a vocal critic of what he and neighbors see as the expansion of the North Las Vegas airport.