Porter to face prosecutor in 2008 election

A top Clark County prosecutor has formally entered the race against Republican Rep. Jon Porter for the suburban Las Vegas congressional district that is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country next year.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas, 40, will be the favored Democratic candidate in a race the Democratic Party plans to target intensively. He filed federal election paperwork on Monday.

However, to avoid conflicts, Daskas said he won't do any campaigning until he finishes prosecuting a high-profile case. Once the case finishes, probably in late October, he probably will quit the district attorney's office to campaign full time.

"Because of the overwhelming encouragement (to run), and particularly because of the donations I received, I feel I am legally obligated to file my intent to become a candidate," Daskas said Tuesday. "However, my first priority is prosecuting Darren Mack for murder. ... Because any public statement I make could prejudice the outcome of that trial, I must refrain from answering questions or speaking out on issues during the trial."

Mack is accused of fatally stabbing his estranged wife and later shooting the Reno Family Court judge, Chuck Weller, who was presiding over the couple's divorce, in June 2006.

Daskas and Clark County Assistant District Attorney Christopher Lalli are prosecuting Mack because the Washoe County district attorney's office recused itself.

Mack's trial is set to begin Oct. 1 and is expected to last about three weeks.

"Be assured, though, after that trial is complete, I will be speaking out and speaking up -- presenting myself to the voters and answering questions," Daskas said. "I want the people of Southern Nevada to know where I stand, and after the Mack trial is complete, I look forward to a vigorous campaign on the issues."

Daskas is a political newcomer who was courted by Democratic Party leaders only after several more experienced candidates declined to run. But Porter is seen as vulnerable because of his divided district, Republican unpopularity and his narrow victory over a 30-year-old first-time candidate in 2006.

Porter, 52, a former state senator and Boulder City mayor, has held the seat since it was created in 2002. He eked out victory over Democrat Tessa Hafen, a former congressional staffer, by less than 4,000 votes last November, getting 48 percent of the vote.

Daskas' campaign is being handled by Hafen's former campaign manager, Heather Urban, a former staffer for Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

The 3rd Congressional District is the state's most populous, consisting of areas surrounding Las Vegas to the east, west and south, including Henderson, Boulder City, the southwest valley and part of Summerlin.

"Congressional District 3 is going to be one of the top targets for Democrats nationally" in 2008, said Kirsten Searer, deputy executive director of the Nevada Democratic Party. "Jon Porter almost lost in 2006 to a first-time candidate. That shows that there are many people in that district who want a change."

Porter won't comment on any particular challenger until the Democratic nominee is selected in the August primary, spokesman Matt Leffingwell said. But Leffingwell said Porter's constituents have every reason to re-elect him.

"We look forward to a substantive debate on the issues once the Democrats have a nominee," Leffingwell said. "Congressman Porter has fought in a tough environment time and time again and proven his ability to win competitive elections."

Leffingwell said Porter's record shows he is in touch with his district's concerns and "an effective leader."

As of the end of June, Porter had raised more than $700,000 and had more than $600,000 in his war chest. However, national Democrats' focus on the race should translate into financial support for Daskas as well.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has already begun airing television ads in his district criticizing Porter this year.

Also running for the Democratic nomination is accountant Andrew Martin, who has raised nearly $40,000 as of June, according to federal records.

Although the 3rd District continues to be closely divided between registered Republicans and Democrats, Democrats currently enjoy their biggest-ever edge in voter registration since the district was created, an advantage of 5,767 voters, or 1.5 percent.

The district contains nearly 160,000 registered Democrats, about 154,000 registered Republicans and 79,000 voters who are nonpartisan or belong to minor parties.

Daskas has been a local prosecutor for 12 years, handling some of the county's biggest cases -- and losing a high-profile one, the retrial of former stripper Sandy Murphy on charges she killed casino mogul and boyfriend Ted Binion.

He is widely respected both within and outside the D.A.'s office for his sharp legal mind, good instincts, competitive zeal and smooth persona. In a book about one of Daskas' cases, former Review-Journal reporter Glen Puit described him as possibly the state's best prosecutor, having "an aura of genuineness" and "a firm belief that right conquers wrong."

Puit noted that the Murphy case was a rare loss: Daskas' record in murder cases is 26 and 1.

Daskas' opponent in the Murphy case, among others, defense attorney Christopher Lalli, agreed that Daskas has an excellent reputation, calling him "a formidable opponent" and "a tremendous advocate for the state of Nevada."

Lalli described Daskas as "fair, prepared, thorough" and having "the ability to relate and connect to people."

His Republican boss, District Attorney David Roger, called Daskas "a top-notch prosecutor" and "an honest guy." When he leaves, "he'll be sorely missed," Roger said.

Daskas was born in California and raised in Henderson, attending Basic High School. He went to Dixie State College in Utah and the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law in California, where he graduated second in his class.

He and his wife, Julie, now live in the southwest valley with their two young children.