Friday, September 03, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

SENATE DISTRICT 5: Candidates face off, talk taxes, education

Republicans O'Connell, Heck debate number of issues

Sen. Ann O'Connell, R-Las Vegas, and primary challenger Joe Heck shake hands after Thursday's debate. The two Republicans talked about their different visions on capping property taxes. Photo by John Locher.

The proceedings were civil but not sedate as Sen. Ann O'Connell debated state Senate District 5 challenger Joe Heck.

The 20-minute debate between the two Republican candidates was taped Thursday afternoon. It was co-sponsored by KLVX-TV and the Review-Journal, and it was aired at 9 p.m. Thursday on Channel 10.

O'Connell, a retired businesswoman, and Heck, an osteopathic physician, shared views on the last year's $833 million tax increase.

O'Connell said she abstained from the final vote because it contained a bank tax and her husband served on the board of a bank.

She said she would have instead supported budget cuts or delays in funding some programs to make up for the state's financial shortfall.

Heck criticized the tax package, saying it was not well-crafted.

He said this was evidenced by the greater-than-expected revenues coming in from the increases.

The two candidates agreed that funding education in Nevada based on the national average wouldn't be the best method.

O'Connell said the national average isn't an "apples-to-apples" comparison. Heck said increasing the amount of funding per pupil isn't the answer, and cited the school district in Washington, D.C., which has one of the highest rates of funding per pupil but "has one of the worst outcomes."

The winner of this primary will face Democrat Richard Fitzpatrick and Libertarian T Rex Hagan in the November general election.

When the candidates were given the opportunity to question each other, Heck opened by saying O'Connell has "always come across as an anti-tax advocate." Then, he asked why she recommended increasing mental health services as chair of a study group on the subject, but then voted against funding those services.

"The state Health Division had the money in place," she said.

The two also sparred on the issue of property taxes, with O'Connell pointing to a political flier that states Heck objects to a proposal that would cap property tax increases at 6 percent and instead would place a cap at 2.5 percent and tie it to the cost of living adjustment.

"My concern is that saying 'up to 6 percent' tells me every year we're going to see a 6 percent increase," he said. "The increase should be (linked) to an objective indicator."