Challenger leads treasurer

CARSON CITY -- Republican challenger Steve Martin has taken a 4 percentage point lead over Democratic incumbent Kate Marshall in the state treasurer's race, according to a poll conducted for the Review-Journal and KLAS-TV, Channel 8.

But the poll found he is the only challenger to lead an incumbent in five races for constitutional offices.

Republican challenger Brian Herr, a political unknown until this election, is within striking distance and the poll's margin of error in the controller's race. He trails Democratic incumbent Kim Wallin by just 2 percentage points.

Also, Democratic Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto holds a 7 percentage point lead over challenger Republican Travis Barrick, a little known Las Vegas lawyer who returned to his native Nevada in 2007.

The poll shows two incumbents have solid, double-digit leads -- Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller. Krolicki holds a 12 percentage point lead over Democrat Jessica Sferrazza, while Miller is ahead by 17 percentage points over Republican Rob Lauer.

Brad Coker, managing partner of Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., which conducted the poll, said it's too soon to call any of the probable winners except Miller. That's primarily because 30 percent or more of respondents are undecided in all but one race.

"Three and a half months in politics is a lifetime," Coker said, pointing out that the general election isn't until November.

Marshall might be suffering just because her job title is "treasurer," a word that may not be popular at a time when the state is trending toward bankruptcy, Coker said.

Martin has better name recognition than other challengers because he's a former state controller who lost a competitive race for re-election four years ago, he added.

Krolicki should win because he is an incumbent and voters are leaning toward the Republican Party this year, Coker said.

But Ross Miller is "the safest of them all," he said.

"He has a good family name and he hasn't done anything wrong," Coker said. "Being secretary of state is largely an apolitical job."

The poll of 625 registered voters was conducted by phone Monday through Wednesday. The results have a 4 percentage point margin of error.

TREASURER

Martin, a certified public accountant in Las Vegas, was not surprised by his lead over Marshall.

"I am the one qualified for the job," said Martin, who served six months as an appointed state controller in 2006 after the murder of Controller Kathy Augustine.

He has accused Marshall of failing to tell legislators in February during a special session that the Millennium Scholarship program faced insolvency. As it stands now, there is not enough money to give qualified students full scholarships in the coming school year.

However, Marshall said information about a shortfall in the scholarship fund was not available until weeks after that special session.

She said she has been an underdog before and cannot wait to get her message out, saying she is running on a record of accomplishment.

"I have saved the state millions by negotiating contracts," Marshall said. "Every special session I have found additional unclaimed property funds to close the gap (shortfall) and I have tripled the amount returned to people in unclaimed property funds."

The state treasurer manages state investments and oversees state spending.

CONTROLLER

In the controller's race, Herr said he was pleased that he trails by such a small margin. He said he is just starting to visit rural parts of the state.

"As a first-time candidate and relative political unknown, I am encouraged by the poll," said Herr, a certified public accountant from Las Vegas. "I am going to be doing a lot of shaking of hands."

Wallin noted it is tough for a controller to become well known, but she has been doing the job for 3½ years without any problems.

"I have kept my name out of the paper," Wallin said. "That is what a controller is supposed to do."

The controller makes sure state funds are spent properly.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

In the attorney general's race, Barrick said the fact that he trails Masto by only 7 points bodes well for his campaign.

"For it to be that close is a referendum on her lack of integrity," said Barrick. "People have a grossly negative view of her."

In particular, Barrick said Nevadans are angry at Masto because her office prosecuted Krolicki. A grand jury indicted Krolicki over his handling of state funds when he was state treasurer, but a judge later tossed out the charges.

Masto said she would not criticize Barrick, and insisted she looks at her job as a nonpartisan one where she make legal decisions "in the best interest of Nevadans."

"People can disagree with my rulings, but I have never used the office for partisan purposes," Masto said.

Barrick is largely unknown to voters, and the inability of Republicans to find a better known candidate shows just how formidable Masto is, according to Erin Bilbray, her campaign manager.

The attorney general serves as legal adviser to the state and its agencies, including the governor's office.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

In the lieutenant governor's race, Sferrazza said she was not disappointed that the poll found she trailed Krolicki by 12 points. She is a longtime Reno City Council member and daughter of former Reno Mayor Pete Sferrazza.

"To be that close to an incumbent at this point shows my message to restore integrity to the office is resonating with voters," Sferrazza said. "He has been completely invisible."

Sferrazza said the lieutenant governor's job includes attracting companies and diversifying the economy in Nevada.

"He has failed," she said. "We have the highest unemployment rate in the country and he has been a faithful servant to the worst governor in Nevada history."

But Krolicki questioned how his integrity could be questioned since he was "exonerated." He said that during his term more than 13,000 jobs have been created through the work of the Commission on Economic Development, which he chairs.

"I am encouraged by these strong poll numbers," added Krolicki, saying he is running on his record and would not criticize Sferrazza.

The lieutenant governor also chairs the Commission on Tourism and serves as president of the state Senate.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Miller, the secretary of state, said his 17-point lead won't cause him to sit back and do little in the fall campaign.

"I will attend as many events as I can," he said. "It is not a good year to be an incumbent, but hopefully people will look at our accomplishments."

Through his efforts and the Legislature's and governor's support, Miller is establishing an online "business portal" to help businesses quickly complete state transactions.

Lauer said Miller's big lead is "not unexpected," but will change rapidly once people learn about him. He contended he will concentrate on persuading the 150,000 independent voters to support him and his campaign will make personal calls to 100,000 voters.

An Army reservist and a small-business owner in Las Vegas, Lauer faces a battery complaint that was filed against him by a woman in June. He denied the charges and filed a counter complaint against the woman. The case hasn't been resolved.

The secretary of state oversees state elections and enforces state election law. He or she also handles the incorporation of companies in Nevada.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.