Kerns seeks re-election against challenger Harter

Dan Kulin

Monday, March 21, 2005 | 11:33 a.m.

Mat Harter

Republican

Age: 38

Occupation: attorney, private practice

Web site: www.mharter.com

Endorsements: Citizens for Responsible Government, Nevada Concerned Citizens

Cedric Kerns

Republican

Age: 39

Occupation: incumbent municipal judge

Endorsements: Las Vegas Police Protective Association, Las Vegas Peace Officers Association, Police Managers and Supervisors Association, Central Labor Council , Las Vegas City Employees' Association, Iron Workers Local 416, Laborers Local 472, Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, International Association ofFirefighters Local 1285.

Las Vegas Municipal Judge Cedric Kerns is running for re-election on his record, which includes presiding over a special program for chronic offenders and a domestic violence program.

Meanwhile, Mat Harter is trying to unseat Kerns with a campaign that criticizes the two-term judge for taking campaign donations from strip clubs and a pay raise since being elected to the bench in 1997.

Kerns said his accomplishments while serving as a judge include his participation and collaboration with Metro Police in the Habitual Offender Prevention and Education program. The program, known as HOPE, gives some repeat offenders the chance to get a suspended jail sentence if they agree to spend at least 90 days in the Transitional Living Center -- a halfway house where they get counseling, employment assistance and treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.

Kerns, 39, also said he is proud of a program that provides intensive case management to some domestic violence cases.

Harter, 38 and making his fifth run for judge, said the city judges should not have received roughly $11,000 pay raises last year, and said that if elected he would give that money to charity.

Harter also said that if elected he would like to require judges to sign off on all traffic citations that are negotiated with city attorneys, and look into creating a mental health court.

Kerns said he would take money from any legitimate business that is not under investigation for any criminal wrongdoing, and added that if others were concerned about the donations he probably would not be endorsed by law enforcement groups.

Kerns also said he thinks the municipal judges are not overpaid, and said it would not be appropriate to ask the City Council to take back the raise.

Harter, an attorney in private practice, also said a malpractice lawsuit against him should be less of an issue now.

Harter was being sued by a woman who claims Harter did not get her a fair settlement for one automobile accident she was involved in, and missed a deadline to file a lawsuit regarding another accident. He said most of the suit has been dismissed, and the remaining claim is related to the allegation that Harter was negligent and missed a deadline.

Both candidates are Republicans. Because they are the only two candidates in the race for the seat on the Department 5 bench, this election is expected to end in the primary. Primary Election Day is April 5.