Democratic legislator to run for Senate seat in Northern Nevada
CARSON CITY -- Five-term Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, announced Saturday she will run for the state Senate seat being vacated by Sheila Leslie in Northern Nevada.
Smith's decision comes just days after Leslie, D-Reno, resigned her Senate seat so she could challenge Republican Sen. Greg Brower in a newly formed Senate District 15 that is highly competitive.
Smith said she would run in Senate District 13, which includes much of Reno and Sparks.
"I am running for the state Senate to continue fighting for a better education system, a healthier economy and a more effective government for Nevada," Smith, 55, said in a statement.
Smith has been chairwoman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, which oversees state spending. She will be running for the final two years of Leslie's four-year Senate term.
The moves by Leslie and Smith have been seen as an attempt by Democrats to improve on their 11-10 membership lead over Republicans in the state Senate.
Smith is Assembly speaker pro tempore and had been mentioned as possible Assembly speaker in the 2013 session, although that position likely will go to either Marcus Conklin or William Horne, both D-Las Vegas. Smith could have served one more term in the Assembly.
Conklin, leader of the Assembly Democratic caucus, praised Smith as an "outstanding assemblywoman" who will be "sorely missed on our side."
Smith has served as a board member of the National Parent Teacher Association, president of the Nevada PTA, and on the boards of the Education Alliance of Washoe County, Girl Scouts of Northern Nevada and Nevada Afterschool Network. She is also a former member of the Lander County School Board.
Contact reporter Ed Vogel at evogel
@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.
