By Amanda Finnegan (contact)

Wed, Oct 8, 2008 (11:07 p.m.)

District 5 State Senator Joe Heck, a Republican, is being challenged for his seat by Shirley Breeden, a Democrat who is a 40-year resident of Nevada.

First elected to the Nevada Senate in 2004, Heck has served on the Natural Resources, Human Resources and Education, and the Commerce and Labor Committees, and as vice-chair of the Transportation and Homeland Security Committee.

Heck is a physician in Clark County and president and medical director of Specialized Medical Operations. He says a top priority for him is fixing Nevada’s ailing health care system.

Breeden has worked in the Clark County School District for 30 years. Most recently she held the position of director of professional development education.

“Nevada is headed in the wrong direction. Our neighbors are losing their jobs, losing their homes, having to choose between medication for their families and gas in their gas tanks,” Breeden said.

Also, challenging Heck are third-party candidates Tony Blanque and Tim Hagan.

Blanque, a Libertarian American, believes the government needs to lower taxes, lower welfare benefits, stop immigration from Africa and Middle Eastern counties and legalize marijuana.

Hagan is running as a Libertarian and believes in lower taxes, a less intrusive government and the right for a parent to choose which Clark County schools their child attends.