Gerhardt won’t seek re-election

Assemblywoman Susan Gerhardt, D-Henderson, announced Friday that she will not seek re-election to the legislative post she has held for two two-year terms.

"It's been my privilege to represent Assembly District 29 and to work on so many critical issues," Gerhardt said in a statement. "Nevadans are fortunate to have many strong advocates for education, public safety and working families serving in the Legislature, and while I will not run for re-election, I will continue to help them fight for Nevada families however I can."

Gerhardt is retiring from politics for now and will not run for state Senate, officials said. Her candidacy had been sought for Senate District 5, represented by Republican Joe Heck, which Democrats would like to target but for which they lack a candidate.

A retired corrections officer with the Metropolitan Police Department, Gerhardt served on the Legislative Committee on Health Care and has been involved in the controversy over the hepatitis outbreak linked to a local clinic.

Gerhardt herself underwent a procedure at the clinic and was one of the 40,000 Southern Nevadans notified they were at risk of disease exposure.

She cited medical and family reasons for her decision not to run, saying she is recovering from surgery. She said her health issues were not related to the hepatitis exposure.

In the Legislature, Gerhardt has worked to promote the rights of battered women and to make more information available about foster care deaths.

"We will be sorry to see her go," said Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas. "She is a phenomenal legislator and a key leader on health care and other issues."

Democrat April Mastroluca is preparing to enter the race. Republican Sean Fellows has spent months aggressively campaigning for the seat and is seen as a strong contender.

Buckley said she's confident Democrats will retain the seat. "We've won that district the last several cycles by having excellent candidates, and the district is more Democratic than ever," she said.

Buckley described Mastroluca as "smart, hardworking, just the kind of person you want to run for office."

Assembly District 29, which covers an area west of U.S. Highway 95 and south of Russell Road that includes the Galleria Mall, is one of the state's most closely divided between the two parties. Democrats' recent gains in voter registration give the party about 42 percent of the district's voters, while Republicans make up 38 percent.

Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.