County Commission seat draws crowd

The race for the seat that Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid will vacate this year is becoming stacked with Democrats.

State Sen. David Parks entered the contest Monday in District G, joining four Democratic candidates and one Republican contender in vying for Reid's post.

Reid plans to file today as a gubernatorial candidate and won't seek another term as commissioner, leaving his seat up for grabs.

Friday is the filing deadline for elected offices.

Parks, 66, said his four decades in government makes him the best successor to Reid.

"I've got 14 years' experience in the Legislature, dealing with tough issues, and I've made those tough decisions," Parks said.

Other Democratic candidates are Mary Beth Scow, a former Clark County School Board member; Greg Esposito and Ron Newell, both county planning commissioners; and Michael Dicks.

Douglas Bell is the lone Republican candidate.

Scow said her 12 years on the School Board make her the most qualified.

"I'm really the only one that's really sat on a board similar to the commission," Scow said. "I've sat in front of the public and made the decisions. I've also raised my family here."

Newell, 70, said his experience, common sense and longevity in the county make him the best choice. Reid appointed him to the planning commission eight years ago. The also spent 12 years on a town advisory board, he said.

Dicks, 52, has no political background. He is studying law while preparing to buy an air-conditioning business.

People seem most concerned about safety in their neighborhoods, he said. He argues that he is right for the job because he's honest and open.

"I want people to know that their commission is really accessible," Dicks said.

The main competition in the Democratic primary will be between Scow and Parks, with the winner being a clear favorite in the general election, said David Damore, political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

"It makes for a pretty heated primary," Damore said. "Both should be able to raise some money, and both have name recognition."

Although Republicans are expected to have a good year, Democrats aren't likely to lose in this strongly blue district, Damore predicts.

Chuck Muth, a conservative political analyst, said Democrats are vulnerable, even in Reid's district, but local Republican leaders chose not to run strong candidates in county races.

Instead, they focused on trying to defeat Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., rather than leaving that battle to the national party, Muth said. "They've completely dropped the ball."

Parks said the top priority is handling the county's financial troubles in the recession.

"Certainly the budget is a primary concern," Parks said, recalling how he helped oversee the city of Las Vegas' budgets during two recessions.

The county must look at consolidating or trimming programs, Parks said. Layoffs might be avoided by slashing jobs after employees retire or quit, he added.

Scow said the county must do what it can to stabilize the economy, fill vacant houses that blight neighborhoods and bolster local education.

Newell said he supports local efforts to lure businesses to the region. He agrees that the county should maintain the quality of schools.

"Educating our children is very important," Newell said.