Assembly District 7

Democrat Dina Neal is seeking a fourth term in Assembly District 7, with a challenge coming from political newcomer Republican Jennifer Fawzy.

Neal said she has not taken a stance on statewide questions about the legalization of recreational marijuana and expanded background checks for gun purchases, while Fawzy said she opposes both those ballot measures.

“I haven’t come up with a decision, but I think the voters need to be educated on what this means,” Neal said about Question 2, the marijuana measure.Fawzy, a secretary who is mounting her first run for political office, said she is concerned how legalized recreational marijuana might be marketed to minors.

However, both candidates agreed that if Question 2 is approved by Nevada voters, additional laws must be passed by the state Legislature to address where, how and when recreational marijuana could be sold and consumed.

Of the 25,154 voters who are registered in Assembly District 7, Democrats make up 56.6 percent, while Republicans are 18.9 percent, according to 2015 figures posted by the secretary of state. Nonpartisan voters make up 19.4 percent; 3.4 percent are Independent American, 0.5 percent are Libertarian and 1.2 percent are registered as “other.”

Fawzy also said she won’t be voting for Question 1, which would require unlicensed people wanting to sell a firearm to conduct the transfer through a licensed dealer who conducts background checks.

“I believe we should be responsible with gun ownership, without infringing on the rights of responsible gun owners,” Fawzy said.

In contrast, Neal, whose father, Joe, was a longtime state senator before he retired, acknowledged that “gun safety is a huge issue,” while adding that “some kind of safeguards should be in place, I’m just not sure what they should be.”

Contact Art Marroquin at amarroquin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0336. Follow @AMarroquin_LV on Twitter.