ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 18

Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 | 1:26 a.m.

Democratic incumbent Mark Manendo is running for a sixth term representing Assembly District 18, which has about 3,300 more Democrats than Republicans.

Standing in his way is GOP candidate Kris Munn, an engineering and development planning manager who garnered nearly seven of every 10 votes cast in the Republican primary. Manendo was unopposed in the primary.

First elected in 1994, Manendo, 38, a recruitment specialist for the Community College of Southern Nevada, wants to cap real estate taxes, strengthen consumer protection laws and provide for better education.

He also wants the construction of a sound barrier on U.S. 95 between Tropicana Avenue and Russell Road and seeks to strengthen laws to protect the rights of mobile home owners against excessive rent increases.

Manendo, a Chaparral High School graduate, has an associate's degrees in resort occupation and hotel, restaurant and casino management from Clark County Community College, now Community College of Southern Nevada.

He is a member of the Legislative Committee on Persons with Disabilities, Opportunity Village, Nevada Public Education Foundation and several other organizations.

Munn, 30, an Air Force veteran and reservist who served in the war in Afghanistan, includes in his platform accountability regarding taxes, better health care, public safety improvements, manufactured-home owners' rights, improved education and independent living concerns of seniors.

He has a bachelor's degree for environmental design in architecture from Texas A&M University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.

Munn says his planning management job has given him the experience to deal with construction issues and the challenges associated with growth.

The district is generally bounded by Vegas Valley Drive, Hollywood Boulevard, Eastern Avenue, Sandhill Avenue and Nellis Boulevard.