ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 22

Lynn Stewart faces two minor-party candidates in the race for Assembly District 22.

Nathan Santucci, a Libertarian, and Joshua Starbuck, of the Independent American Party, both want to replace the one-term Republican. No Democrat is running in the district.

Stewart, 67, taught high school in Boulder City for 34 years. Since retiring, he has worked part time supervising student teachers for a branch of Brigham Young University.

Santucci, 35, is director of covert activities for the entertainment act Penn and Teller. That means he manages the technical aspects of their show at the Rio.

Starbuck could not be reached for comment.

Both candidates said dealing with the state's current budget crisis will have to be their priority if elected. Both said they would oppose tax increases.

"The budget is going to control everything," Stewart said.

He said that although Nevada's economy is struggling, "we've always come back" from hard times.

But if the downturn seemed permanent, he said, he would be open to talking about restructuring the state's tax system.

Santucci, who unsuccessfully ran for the Assembly in 2006, said an outsider's perspective would be good for legislators to hear.

He said there is plenty of government spending that could be cut without hurting schools and other vital institutions too much.

Legislators, for example, should not accept any pay for next year's session.

"I certainly wouldn't," he said.

Also, Santucci wants the state to ease regulations to make starting affordable private schools easier, which he said would lessen the burden on the public school system.

Stewart has several other priorities. He wants to renew a proposal that would prohibit protests within 300 feet of military funerals. The proposal failed last session.

Also, he wants to require identification at polling places, make English the official language of Nevada and issue birth certificates for stillborn babies to recognize their families' sacrifices.

He would like to secure $30 million for a new nursing building at Nevada State College but acknowledged that doing so would be difficult in the tough economic times.

Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.