ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 41

Like most candidates in this November's election, Paul Aizley and Kenneth Rex say their No. 1 responsibility, if elected, is to fix the state's budget.

But the Assembly District 41 hopefuls propose different approaches to generating more funding.

"There are existing taxes that aren't being collected and exemptions being made to businesses that no longer make any sense,'' said Aizley, the Democrat. "I believe there are stores that collect sales tax and don't give it to the state's treasury. We need to start collecting. We need better oversight of businesses to ensure that they are following state laws.''

Rex, the Independent American candidate, also says the state needs to reduce spending to get the budget under control. He believes the state needs to go back to its past to get some ideas on how to fix the budget.

"If you look back at what happened after the last depression, what did Nevada do? It legalized gambling, legalized prostitution and made divorce quick and easy. Those moves laid the basis for the growth we've experienced,'' Rex said. "If we would legalize drugs, that would generate at least $100 million a year in this state. We already provide room and board to drug addicts, why not just legalize it and make money?''

Rex said Nevada could charge sales tax on marijuana.

Another option is to allow women to use their reproductive rights.

He said women should be allowed to sell their eggs and get paid for being surrogate mothers.

"Women should be compensated for being surrogate mothers; just think of the additional revenue when people come here to get the babies,'' Rex said.

The issues the two candidates are most concerned about in their district include people losing their homes, crime and education.

While campaigning, Aizley said, people spoke to him about increased taxes, lack of jobs and what transpired at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, which authorities have linked to a hepatitis C outbreak.

They also are concerned about having access to adequate health care, he said.

"I spoke to a woman, in her home, who was a mother of a child with special needs,'' he said. "Because the state cut some of her child's services, she is scared she's not going to be able to cover all her expenses.''

On the foreclosures, Rex said the country should allow the market to fix itself.

"I'm a constitutionalist. I look at what we're spending our money on,'' he said. "The big bailout. I called my senator and representative, and I said, 'Look. Don't do this. It's not your place to save a company's mismanagement.'''

Republican candidate Tim Rowland could not be reached for comment.

Contact reporter Annette Wells at awells@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.