NLV’s Buck to run for county seat

Kirsten Searer

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004 | 11:06 a.m.

Shari Buck, a two-term councilwoman from North Las Vegas, announced today she will challenge Mary Kincaid-Chauncey for her seat on the Clark County Commission.

Buck said she hopes to raise $1 million for the race.

"There are a lot of people interested in this race, and they're interested in finding the best person for the commission," Buck said. "And I believe I'll be successful in gaining their support."

Buck is the first Republican to enter the race for Clark County Commission, District B, an area of North Las Vegas that has seen an increasing number of registered Republicans, according to Jim Ferrence, a political consultant with Paladin Advertising.

Buck's candidacy poses yet another political hurdle for Kincaid-Chauncey, who is facing federal charges of political corruption, Ferrence said. Buck said she is not currently using Ferrence as a consultant, but that she may in the future.

The Democratic primary likely will be tough -- and expensive -- for Kincaid-Chauncey, who will face seven-term Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning, D-North Las Vegas, Ferrence said.

Then the victor of that race could face Buck in the general election, Ferrence said.

"I think it will be a very expensive primary and a very expensive general election," he said.

Kincaid-Chauncey said she is ready to take on the increasing competition, and she is gearing up to raise $700,000 to keep her seat.

"I think it will be a tough race no matter who's in it, whether there's one or two or 10 or 12," Kincaid-Chauncey said. "But I feel very confident that it's going to be a winnable race. People stop me everywhere and say, 'We support you. Don't worry about it. We know it's not true.' I think I'm getting a lot of support in the community."

She said she hopes that by the November election she can clear her name of the racketeering and wire fraud charges against her. Kincaid-Chauncey is facing charges stemming from the same federal political corruption probe that is trying to link former commissioners Erin Kenny, Lance Malone and Dario Herrera to payments from former strip club owner Michael Galardi.

"I know I'm innocent, and I figure by then everyone else will know," she said.

Buck said she won't focus on the charges against Kincaid-Chauncey.

"I will run my race on the issues that I feel are most important, which are quality of life issues and fulfilling the needs of the citizens that live in the district,' she said. "I don't plan on really worrying about who else is in the race or what their issues are."

Chowning agreed that the race will be costly, though she said she doesn't want to predict how much she'll need to win it. At least two other people still could throw their names in, she said.

"I feel that there possibly will be others also, but that doesn't deter me," Chowning said. "That just gives me even more energy."

Buck sits on the Regional Transportation Commission, the Regional Flood Control District and the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

"I think that serving on the regional boards has really given me a grasp of the issues we all face," she said.

She was a substitute teacher before she decided to focus on politics, according to her website. She has a husband, Keith, and four children.