ASSEMBLY DISTRICT No. 16

Republican candidates vying for a chance to unseat Assembly majority leader and Democrat John Oceguera in the District 16 race are pinning their hopes on budget reform issues.

Three Republicans -- Jack Nino, Bob Irwin and Glenn V. Greener -- rely on business and professional experience to back their views on taxes and balancing the state budget.

Irwin, 64, said lawmakers need to find ways to increase the state's income because most of Nevada's problems can be traced to a shortfall in funds.

"We have decreased spending to a point that we're cutting out some very important programs," he said, citing examples in juvenile services and highway maintenance.

While nobody likes to talk about increasing tax revenues and fees for state services, he said, "I suspect it is time to bite the bullet. We can either shrink or grow."

Irwin said taxes need to be applied fairly and evenly and legislators should ensure money isn't spent foolishly.

"The people who are promising to lower taxes and fees and at the same time increase services (make) an interesting statement but it's not realistic," he said.

Nino, 37, said he is "not real excited about raising taxes. Government in general isn't very efficient."

"I really love this state and everybody's talking about we need all these changes and I'm not really convinced of that," he said.

He said he wants to separate Clark County School District into smaller districts and he'd like to see teachers paid on merit instead of longevity.

Funding for schools is one area where raising taxes could be considered, but there would have to be reform in how money for schools is spent and distributed.

"I want to know I'm going to get some benefit out of paying the teachers more," Nino said.

His stance on balancing the budget comes from a business perspective.

"At some point or another there might have to be layoffs," Nino said. "Personally, I feel government is like any other business. If your income doesn't match what you're hoping for, you have to cut costs."

Greener, 67, said his top priority is property tax relief. He wants to roll back property taxes to 2003 and 2004 levels when there was less inflation and enact a California Proposition 13-style cap in Nevada.

"We need to help the taxpayers on this issue," he said. "If we reduce property taxes, that will reduce interest and hopefully not put them upside-down on their homes."

Greener has experience writing and processing Assembly bills and has worked with state and federal lawmakers on issues related to taxes.

He attended law school at night with the help of the American Indian Law Center and served on the Hupa Indian Reservation where he helped negotiate treaties and budgets with the federal government. He has lived in Clark County since 1992.

The Republican primary winner will face Oceguera in November's general election.

Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.