ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 2

Since Republican incumbent Garn Mabey announced he would not run for re-election, candidates have been coming out of the woodwork to be the next representative for District 2.

Seven candidates have thrown their hat into the race. The district, known as a GOP stronghold where nearly 45 percent of active voters are Republican, will have two primaries.

Carlos Blumberg and Meghan Smith will face off on the Democrats' side of the ticket. Ernest Fitzpatrick, John Hambrick and Jack Surpure will duke it out to represent the Republicans in November.

The primary winners from the two major parties will face off against Independent American candidate Jon Kamerath and Libertarian candidate Edward G. Klapproth in the general election.

Mabey, a medical doctor and three-term assemblyman, announced he wasn't running for re-election in October.

Hambrick, a 63-year-old retired federal law enforcement officer and former chairman of the Clark County Republican Party, was first to announce his candidacy.

Nevada's Republican leadership is behind Hambrick. He's been endorsed by Sen. John Ensign, Gov. Jim Gibbons, and Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, among others.

Hambrick said one of the top issues he is running on is the Clark County education system and wasteful spending. "I agree we need to pay teachers adequate and fair salaries ... but I don't think we are getting an accurate account of how money is spent," he said.

Hambrick believes in small school districts. He said he would like to pass a law giving municipalities such as North Las Vegas and Henderson the option of forming their own school districts.

Surpure, originally from India, finished his medical education in Britain and the United States. He moved to the valley 15 years ago to start the pediatric emergency unit at University Medical Center.

Addressing the current health care crisis stemming from unsafe practices at ambulatory surgery centers, Surpure said he was offended by what happened.

"The laws are on the books" to prevent such acts from occurring, the 65-year-old said, adding what is needed is better enforcement and oversight.

Surpure also wants to centralize medical education programs under one health sciences center. Currently, doctors have to do residencies at different hospitals.

Surpure believes it would be an asset to have a physician in the state Legislature. He said he has committed $50,000 of his own money to his campaign and is prepared to spend more if needed. And he said his grass- roots support is growing.

Fitzpatrick did not return calls for this article.

On the Democratic ticket, Blumberg, an attorney, will face off against Smith, an educator.

Blumberg, 33, lost to Mabey in the 2006 election, but believes this year will be different. "It's a perfect storm," in District 2, he said.

The number of registered Democrats has increased and voter turnout will be higher for the presidential election, he said.

Blumberg's No. 1 issue is health care and making sure the state takes steps to investigate the evolving public health crisis. Blumberg grew up in the valley doing rounds with his physician father. "Some kids went to baseball games and I learned how to read an EKG," he said.

Education is another priority for Blumberg. He would like to see more done to address school violence issues and raise teacher salaries.

He is also active with multiple Jewish and Hispanic organizations in the valley.

Smith has lived in the valley since 2003 where she's worked as a cocktail waitress and blackjack dealer at Wynn.

Smith became interested in politics while helping organize the Wynn dealers with the Transport Workers Union in response to managers trying to tap dealer tips for extra salary.

Smith, 29, has also taught sociology at the College of Southern Nevada and done volunteer work with local elementary school students.

She is in favor of lowering classroom sizes and providing incentives to hire good teachers.

She currently is a teacher of English at a government school in Thailand that educates kids who lost their parents during the 2004 Tsunami which killed more than 200,000. As a result, Smith will be in Thailand for the Aug. 12 election.

Smith's stint with the school ended in March, but when replacement teachers didn't show up, she said she decided to stay to help the school through the summer. Smith said she will be back in September.

Smith said she would have the same commitment to education in Nevada if elected.

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