Local Republicans rally around Bush

Kirsten Searer

Monday, March 22, 2004 | 8:43 a.m.

The Republican county convention held over the weekend didn't attract nearly as many people as last week's Democratic convention, but GOP supporters said they feel confident their party is just as united this election year.

About 300 Republicans, including about 160 delegates who will go on to the state convention, met Saturday to set their party's agenda for this year.

That contrasts with the record 1,000 Democrats who met last week for their county convention, but Assemblywoman Valerie Weber, R-Las Vegas, said the real "workers" were there to find out how they can help this election season.

"People can come out to the convention in record numbers but this is the team, this is the grassroots for both the President as well as the different levels of government in the state," she said.

On Saturday, Republicans set their party's platform and elected county party leaders. There was little contention among them on their platform, which included support for President Bush's proposed constiutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.

They also voted to support the proposed state constitutional amendment that would require legislators to allot money for education first when divvying out the state budget.

Kris Jensen, chairwoman of the platform committee, said party members have argued before over the platform planks, but this year people were mostly in agreement. That is indicative of the entire convention -- Republicans are united around President Bush, she said.

"It looks like a united force," she said. "And I'm really happy about that."

Jim McQuown Jr., a 56-year-old Vietnam veteran who recently retired to Las Vegas, said he thinks Nevada will vote for Bush again. Sen. John Kerry won't appeal to the retirees and veterans, he said.

"He's a liberal tax-and-spend Democrat," McQuown said.

At lunch, the Republicans heard from Hector Barreto, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration. He told them that Bush has worked to create an environment that fosters business growth, especially small business growth, that the president's critics have overlooked.

"One of the things they never talk about is all of the jobs that small businesses create every year," he said.

Up to 75 percent of new jobs come from small businesses, and sometimes it takes a year for those jobs to be registered in job statistics, he said.

Bush has encouraged small business growth by cutting taxes, increasing business deducations, creating more health care options and ensuring that small businesses get their fare share of government contracts, he said.