Candidates line up early to file

Kirsten Searer and Cy Ryan

Monday, May 3, 2004 | 11:22 a.m.

Candidates turned out early this morning to put their names on the ballot.

Candidates may file through May 14 for a spot in a September primary, if necessary, or the November general election.

In Clark County about a dozen candidates were lined up early, including Regents Tom Kirkpatrick and Steve Sisolak. Five regents on the controversial board are up for re-election after a year in which the board fired Community College of Southern Nevada President Ron Remington and lobbyist John Cummings.

Also filing early was Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., who said she has not heard of any potential Republican opponents so far, though she said she would be surprised to run unopposed.

She said she has faced three "killer" challengers in the past three elections.

"It's only made me stronger," she said.

By midmorning today two people had filed for Family Court Dept. F: Incumbent Bob Gaston and attorney Gayle Beck-Nathan.

As in the past four election cycles, Lou Toomin, a Republican, was first in line to file. The former assemblyman is running for Assembly District 15 against incumbent Kathy McClain, a Democrat.

One of the most crowded primaries could be for Senate District 4, the seat held by Democratic Sen. Joe Neal for 32 years.

This morning, attorney Bert Mack, who is one of at least five Democrats expected to run for the seat, said he is looking forward to the "crowded race."

"Quite frankly, I assume it's going to get even more crowded," he said.

The Clark County Election Department will update its Web site twice a day for the next two weeks as candidates file. A link to the candidates list can be found linked to the Clark County Web site, accessclarkcounty.com.

In Carson City, Assemblyman John Marvel, R-Battle Mountain, and Supreme Court Justice Michael Douglas were the first incumbents to file in the secretary of state's office.

Marvel provided a key vote for passage of the $833 million tax package approved by lawmakers last year.

Douglas, the first black on the Nevada Supreme Court, was to be formally sworn in today to fill the unexpired term of the late Justice Myron Leavitt, and he filed this morning to keep the seat during November's election.

Marvel, 77, arrived at the secretary of state's office before 8 a.m. and completed his formal declaration of candidacy within minutes. He is the senior member of the Assembly, having served since 1979.

Douglas, 56, actually took the oath of office from Chief Justice Miriam Shearing two weeks ago and has been sitting on cases since then. If he does not win in November, he would leave the Supreme Court bench in January.