Hampton, Miller square off in judge race

Thursday, May 19, 2005 | 10:57 a.m.

Michael L. Miller

Age: 54.

Occupation: Henderson Municipal and Justice Court pro-tem judge.

Endorsements: Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs, Henderson Police Supervisors Association, Henderson Chamber of Commerce, and Southern Nevada Central Labor Council.

Diana Hampton

Age: 39.

Occupation: Stepped down as criminal prosecutor for the city of Henderson to run for the post.

Endorsements: Henderson Police Officers Association, Metro Police Managers and Supervisors Association, North Las Vegas Police Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Veterans in Politics and Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters.

The race for Henderson's newly created Municipal Court judge pits a city prosecutor against a former Clark County public defender.

Diana Hampton captured 34 percent of the vote in the April primary when she edged Michael Miller by more than 700 votes in the four-candidate field.

Miller said he's confident he can make up the difference in the June 7 general election. A Henderson Municipal and Justice Court pro-tem judge, Miller has the endorsement of the third-place finisher in the primary, James Gibson Jr., the nephew of Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson. The mayor is also backing his campaign.

Turnout is expected to be light because it's the only race on the Henderson ballot after Mayor Gibson won re-election in April.

"I think it is going to be even a lower turnout than the primary," Miller said. "I don't know how this is going to affect the race. It just means you have to work harder and go out and knock on doors."

Hampton said she understands why the Gibsons would support Miller given their long-time family friendship. She said endorsements won't decide the race and that voters will back who they think is most qualified.

Hampton raised more than $19,000 for the primary and said she has brought in another $12,000 for the general election. She said she expects the race to be close and wished voters had other races to bring them to the polls.

"I think it is about grass-roots and working hard and meeting people and letting them know who they are voting for and what you stand for," Hampton said.

For Hampton, 39, that means stressing that she is the only prosecutor in the race and someone who has worked for the city. She stepped down from her job as a prosecutor in the Henderson city attorney's office to run for the post. She said the transition would be an easy one for her because of her job in the city and knowledge of working with the court system.

"I am very tough on crime," Hampton said. "I don't mean that every crime deserves jail time. You look at people who need to be punished like career criminals. But there are people who maybe got off on the wrong track or made a mistake. You get them help."

Miller, 54, said he's more qualified because of his 30 years as an attorney compared to five years for Hampton. He said his 25 years working in the court system has given him the background of dealing with a variety of cases. And sitting as a judge pro-tem allows him to step right into the job, he said.

"All I can rely on is my qualifications and try to get that out to the voter," said Miller, a former deputy public defender.

As for his campaign issues, Miller said domestic battery and DUI cases must be handled expeditiously to protect the community. But the court needs to work on the underlying problems so the offender does not come back, he said.