Assembly District 4

Thursday, Aug. 19, 2004 | 11:51 a.m.

Assembly District 4 is a Republican stronghold that is saying goodbye to Assemblyman Bob Beers, a certified public accountant who made his name last session by fighting tax increases.

Beers is running for the state Senate, but the three Republicans -- Francis Allen, Justin Doucette and Richard McArthur -- vying for his spot have realized this district, which includes Sun City, still likes to hear about cutting taxes.

The winner of the Republican primary will take on Independent American Mark Andrews in the general election.

Allen, 26, is a copywriter who is known as an ardent campaigner. She won the Republican primary in 2002 in nearby Assembly District 37 and lost by just 134 votes to Democrat Marcus Conklin in the general election.

She got her start in politics by interning and then working full time for Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev. Allen also managed the Judiciary Committee for the state Senate.

Allen points out that many seniors and families in the district are on a fixed income, and she advocates limiting taxes. She also promises to push for quality and affordable health care and protect residents in her district who still use wells for their water. Several home invasions have taken place in her district, and she pledged to increase neighborhood patrols.

Doucette, 33, is a certified public accountant who is quick to point out that he and Beers are both are CPAs, saying he could continue Beers' legacy of scrutinizing the state budget.

Doucette has been researching the idea of a taxpayers bill of rights similar to the one in Colorado that limits government growth to population growth and inflation. He was an early supporter of capping property tax increases and would work to ensure that education funds are well spent.

McArthur, 61, a retired FBI special agent, said he wants to fight government waste. He also supports medical-malpractice tort reform, the right to keep and bear arms and keeping marriage between a man and a woman.