SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT B

Thursday, Oct. 14, 2004 | 2:04 a.m.

If Clark County School Board candidate Troy Bulloch had his way, the primary ballot would have been crammed with candidates even more qualified than he considers himself.

"Every politician wants to talk about education and kids -- they're running for the wrong office," said Bulloch, who faces incumbent Ruth Johnson for the District B seat. "The (School) District is the biggest consumer of tax dollars in the state and the largest employer. The people on that board should have MBAs and not be scared of dealing with large numbers."

Bulloch, 33, the father of four -- including two middle schoolers -- manages his family's business, Fort Cheyenne Casino in North Las Vegas.

Bulloch, who challenged Johnson unsuccessfully in 2000, described his opponent as "a fine lady ... she just doesn't have all the skills the job requires."

Bulloch said he would push to have the School District broken up into more manageable parcels, improving access and accountability.

"I'm confident I've worked hard and represented the interests of District B well, but you never know for sure how these things are going to go," Johnson said.

Johnson, 44, is a graduate of Brigham Young University who is a freelance designer and community volunteer.

The mother of four -- two in high school, one in middle school and one in elementary school, Johnson said as a parent she's been frustrated by the district's size. But she disagreed with Bulloch's proposal to break it up. While it would likely make schools and administrators more accessible to parents, it wouldn't improve educational opportunities, she said.

Dividing the district would also be an expensive undertaking and, given the uncertainty that accompanied the last round of education funding, it's not a path Johnson said she's eager to venture down.

"Breaking up the district won't make schools or classes smaller, and that's what is going to make the difference for our students," Johnson said.