ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 1

The primary race to see who will be the Republican nominee to face off against a two-term incumbent for Assembly District 1 has pitted Republicans James R. Jones against Linda West Myers.

The winner of the race between Jones and West Myers will face off against Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas.

Jones, 36, an eight-year veteran of the Air Force is a political novice, but believes he has something to contribute.

Jones is originally from South Carolina but has lived in Las Vegas continuously the last decade. He also lived in the valley from 1992 to 1997.

The sales representative for Swisher and private wholesale distributor of cleaning products said his top priority is education.

"I want to see education be a higher priority," said Jones, a father of a 10-year-old boy.

Jones wants to see an end to education cuts. Instead of raising taxes to meet the financial need, he believes money needs to be appropriated from other programs.

"We've lost sight of what the government was meant to do. They care too much about being a revenue generator instead of as a function to help the people," Jones said.

He admits he's can't be sure where the budget cuts would come from until he's up in Carson City. "The money is there. It needs to be rebudgeted in the right places," he said.

West Myers has run for the position before. She was defeated in 2006 by the incumbent by about 2,500 votes. In 2004, Kirkpatrick defeated West Myers' brother, Ed Gobel, by more than 2,000 votes.

She could not be reached for comment for this story. West Myers lists her top priorities on her Web site as education, veterans affairs, health care and small business health insurance, and fighting illegal immigration.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmcabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.