Candidates look to fill Woodbury’s commission seat

By Cydney Cappello (contact)

Friday, Aug. 8, 2008 | 2:55 p.m.

Brian Scroggins

Steve Sisolak

Bruce Woodbury, the longest-serving county commissioner in Nevada history, has helped shape Clark County for the past 27 years. The valley’s beltway even carries his name.

But Woodbury will be vacating his District A post (see map) as a result of a Nevada Supreme Court decision on term limits, and there’s soon to be a new face on the commission.

Republican candidate Duane Christy said he’s running for the open county commission seat to diversify the economy, lessen the county’s dependence on the gaming industry and improve health insurance and transportation. The 46-year-old collection agency and software company owner also has said he wants to make health care affordable and clean up the University Medical Center’s finances.

With rising gasoline prices, Christy said he wants to improve public transportation as more citizens opt to ride the bus instead of drive.

Brian Scroggins, a 46-year-old sign company owner and Christy’s GOP competitor, said he also holds transportation and traffic high on his list of priorities, but he’s eyeing another accomplishment, too: increasing community involvement in local government.

“I want to start a citizens audit committee … I want to make government as transparent as possible … different departments do presentations all the time; I want [citizens] to see how it’s run and what the budget’s about,” said Scroggins, a 20-year resident of the Las Vegas area.

On the Democratic side, candidates are focusing on social issues.

Steve Sisolak, a 54-year-old advertising consultant and university regent, said government should protect its most vulnerable citizens and create more government accountability. He also wants more transparency in government.

“People are opposed to paying taxes if they don’t know where it’s going,” Sisolak said.

No stranger to this race, Jeffrey White, 54, ran for this same seat eight years ago against Woodbury. White, who works in construction and plumbing, said he wants to represent the working class.

While the 40-year valley resident said he’s concerned with education and rural issues, like Christy, he wants to improve the University Medical Center.

“They’re losing a lot of money,” he said. “The district attorney needs to stop everything they’re doing and investigate.”

Independent party candidate Scott Narter also will be on the Nov. 4 ballot.