Primary races lack punch

Constituents of Assemblyman Marcus Conklin, D-Las Vegas, got a flier recently letting them know they can go ahead and vote in the primary if they want, but they shouldn't expect to see him there.

"Dear Friend," the mailer, which went to Democrats in Assembly District 37, said, "I am running unopposed in this year's Primary Election and my name will not appear on your ballot. However, I urge you to exercise your right to vote..."

It was yet another reminder of how low the stakes are in this year's Nevada primary. Early voting begins today and goes through Aug. 8, with Election Day on Aug. 12.

Two years ago, the gubernatorial race featured hard-fought primaries for both Democrats and Republicans. There were big primaries in the statewide races for many of the state's six constitutional offices and for the Republican nomination in Northern Nevada's 2nd Congressional District.

Voters might remember another big primary contest of late -- the presidential one. Nevada was one of the first states to weigh in on the two parties' nominees, having caucuses back in January.

But now the presidential contenders are decided and the ballots voters are seeing are comparatively devoid of drama. The only statewide race, and the only contest that's been advertised on television, is the one for an open state Supreme Court seat, which will see four candidates pared down to two for the general election.

There are some primaries in the races for Nevada's three seats in the House of Representatives.

There are state legislative races and the County Commission and the School Board and judicial contests.

To be sure, for the candidates who face elimination in these primaries, they are of utmost consequence.

Some have the power to reshape state government, notably the tough primary Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, faces at the hands of former Assemblywoman Sharron Angle.

But the majority of Nevada voters don't get to vote in that race.

The big story surrounding this primary has been another matter out of voters' hands, the saga over term limits.

The state Supreme Court on Friday upheld the limits and ruled that many local officials, including longtime Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, were ineligible to run for re-election.

Asked about the primary, Clark County Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax admitted, "I cannot say there's a lot of interest in this election at this point in time."

What's on most ballots, he said, is "a lot of judges, most of 'em uncontested."

Lomax's standard estimate of primary turnout is 25 percent, give or take a few percentage points.

In 2006, primary turnout was 27 percent in Clark County and 30 percent statewide.

"If I had to put money, I'd bet on the under this time," he said.

Plenty of voters are facing a similar situation to Conklin's constituents: If they bother to vote, they won't get to decide all that much.

A front-page article in the Tonopah Times-Bonanza last week noted, "Esmeralda County's primary ballot offers particularly easy choices for voters in the current election. The only offices at the county level that are up for grabs are school board seats, and all candidates are running unopposed."

Esmeralda's voters can weigh in on the Supreme Court race and the 2nd Congressional District's Republican primary, but they won't see any legislative primaries either.

The low-octane nature of this year's primary hasn't stopped some well-intentioned souls from using it as an occasion to whip up civic involvement.

A local Democratic club, Si Se Puede, announced last week it would be mounting a three-week get-out-the-vote program "aimed at Latino voters in target precincts" and ending on Election Day, Aug. 12.

The club said in a news release it was targeting six Assembly districts -- nos. 11, 12, 14, 19, 21 and 28. "Assembly District 21 has been targeted to help fellow Si Se Puede Democratic Club member Ellen Spiegel in her candidacy for Assemblywoman of this Henderson District," the release stated.

But it will be hard to help Spiegel in the primary, because she has none.

As the only Democrat in the race, she will be on the general-election ballot no matter how many people, of whatever ethnic background, show up to vote.

In fact, only one of the six Assembly districts the club is targeting features a Democratic primary.

In District 12, incumbent Assemblyman James Ohrenschall faces challenger Aaron Matthew Hall.

Informed that was the case, a club member who answered the phone said, "Really?" But the club's chairwoman, Vicenta Montoya, defended the goal of increasing primary turnout even in a primary that is no great shakes.

"I think it's important that new voters especially get into the habit of voting, irrespective of what the election is," she said.

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