Schneider answers election question, files for state Senate

Kirsten Searer

Friday, May 14, 2004 | 9:22 a.m.

Candidates

1st District: Brian Kral (D)

District 2: Dan Maxey (D); Brendan J. Trainor (L)

District 5 (Seat A): Joe Heck (R); T. Rex Hagan (L)

District 11: Mike Schneider (D)*

District 22: Lynn D. Stewart (R); Joshua Hansen (IAP)

District 29: Susan Gerhardt (D); Scott A. Ervin (R)

District 37: Sandra Vitolo (R)

Department 1: Greg Denue

District 7: Mervin R. "Merv" Iverson*

District 7: JS "Jack" Surpure

District A: Isaac Farrell

Department 9: Charles A. Michalek

One election year mystery was cleared up Thursday.

Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, filed to run for re-election to the state Senate.

For the past few weeks Schneider had been publicly mulling a bid for the Clark County Commission. That election would have pitted him against Assemblyman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, who filed to run for the county office on Wednesday and already has secured the support of some labor organizers.

Even after Schneider's decision, there were several election question marks going into today, which is the last day candidates can file to run for office.

Republican Tim Cory continued to contemplate a primary challenge against County Commissioner Lynette Boggs McDonald, who filed to run for the office on Thursday.

Cory said Thursday evening he thinks he could give Boggs McDonald a run for her money in a Republican primary, but he's still unsure if he wants to put in the time needed to win a tough election.

"There's no question of what we start to do, we finish, so don't be alarmed if we're taking our time to decide," he said.

Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, announced months ago he would not seek another term in the Legislature, but he continued to say he might challenge County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates. Neal had not fileed for office as of Thursday evening.

Embattled Assemblyman Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas, still hadn't filed on Thursday evening, though he announced in April he would run for office again.

And one final question -- Sen. Ray Shaffer, R-North Las Vegas, had not yet filed as of Thursday evening. Shaffer was widely criticized after he switched parties in the last Legislative session and then missed a final vote on taxes because he was in Hawaii.

Still, Shaffer had initiated a campaign as of a few weeks ago. He could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

All candidates have until 5 p.m. today to file.

Schneider said he still had several issues he wanted to focus on in the Legislature, including monitoring a new homeowners association commission on and increasing funding for education and health care.

He likely will face Republican Danny Tarkanian, son of former University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, in a general election.

While Schneider said he realizes the Tarkanian name is popular among some in Las Vegas, he said the people in his district know him as a long-time resident and he thinks the presidential campaign will motivate Democrats to go to the polls.

"This is going to be a good year for Democrats," he said.