ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 23

An open seat in Assembly District 23 has drawn a pair of serious, well-funded candidates.

The Henderson district was represented by one-term legislator RoseMary Womack, a Democrat who decided the work was not to her liking and announced she would not run again shortly after last year's legislative session.

Family law attorney and Democrat Allison Herr filed first to replace Womack. She was joined in the race by Melissa Woodbury, a teacher and the eldest daughter of popular, longtime Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, also a Republican.

Neither candidate drew a challenger in the primary.

Herr, who has lived in Southern Nevada for 14 years and Henderson for seven years, thinks her business background gives her the edge. She runs her own law firm specializing in families and the elderly.

She grew up on a farm in Kansas, and she said she feels she understands rural Nevada issues relating to agriculture and water rights.

As for the budget crisis, Herr said the state needs to do a better job collecting taxes. She also favors an investment in green energy research and development as a way to generate new jobs and revenue for Nevada.

She does not support layoffs for state workers, but she will not rule out the possibility.

"No matter what we do, we need to get rid of the 'sacred cow' approach to government. Everything needs to be on the table," she said.

Realistically, Herr said, the 2009 session will be about cuts not new initiatives, but she would like to find a way to expand services to the elderly, including more nursing home beds and greater access to medical care.

"And transportation absolutely has to be tackled," she said, possibly through toll roads and other public-private partnerships.

Woodbury is an elementary school teacher who has worked in Clark County since 1994. She said education is her main area of interest, but she insists she is "not a one-issue person."

Transportation, health care and illegal immigration are other topics she hopes to address as a legislator.

On the state's budget shortfall, Woodbury said her focus would be wasteful spending, some of it in education. Before Nevada's schools receive more funding, she wants a review to make sure they are spending what they already get in a responsible manner.

"Number one for me is not raising our taxes at all. I'm going to fight to keep our taxes low," she said.

Woodbury acknowledged the weight that her last name carries, but she also knows that voters need more than her father's good reputation. "A lot of people really want to get to know me and find out what I'm going to do," she said.

The numbers in the district favor a Democrat: 45 percent of the district's registered voters are Democrats, while 35 percent are Republicans, according to the county Election Department.

At the end of the last reporting period Aug. 5, Herr had amassed almost $88,000 in donations, a large share of it from Democratic groups and fellow candidates. Woodbury reported a campaign war chest of $75,550, including $6,000 from her father.

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350.