BOARD OF REGENTS DISTRICT 7

Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 | 1:35 a.m.

A Las Vegas pediatrician is challenging Board of Regents District 7 incumbent Steve Sisolak, who is seeking a second term.

Dr. Jack Surpure, 62, a medical professor for 17 years at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, said improving medical education and finding more private funding for higher education would be two of his priorities if elected.

Surpure said it is essential that the regents do more to train future doctors in Nevada in the hope that they will stay after graduation. A U.S. citizen who emigrated from India in 1973, Surpure has lived in Las Vegas for 12 years.

Sisolak, 50, owns a business marketing company, American Distributors, and has a master's in business administration from UNLV. He said he has used his experience to make sure tax dollars are being spent wisely in his six years as a regent and will continue to do so if re-elected.

As a vocal critic of the board's inability to follow the open meeting law and of its decision to fire two community college administrators last fall, Sisolak said ensuring accountability is the biggest challenge regents face.

"UCCSN (the University and Community College System of Nevada) has had tremendous challenges this year, proving we need a better check and balance system for ourselves," Sisolak said. "We must have more accountability of personnel at all levels, including the Board of Regents."

In other races, Dorothy Gallagher, 79, is running again for the rural, 11-county District 8 seat she resigned to give to Marcia Bandera two years ago after 22 years on the board. District 8 includes nearby Pahrump in Nye County. Bandera, who was appointed, chose not to run.

Challenging Gallagher is rancher Stan Aiazzi, 59. Aiazzi retired as vice president for student services from Great Basin College three years ago after working for the Elko community college for 30 years.

Former Assemblyman Bob Price, 67, is challenging incumbent Doug Hill, 56, for the Washoe County District 11 seat.