Reid spotlights economy

Democratic candidate for governor Rory Reid said he wants to help build a "fundamentally new economy" for Nevada, but wouldn't say how he would enact his vision for reform when faced with a state budget shortfall that could exceed $3 billion in 2011.

Reid, chairman of the Clark County Commission and son of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., filed his election papers Tuesday morning in Las Vegas.

During a question-and-answer session with reporters, Reid called for annual sessions of the Legislature and hinted he could balance the budget without new taxes. If he were in the shoes of Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons, he said, he would sign a budget bill that calls for a 6.9 percent cut to the state's education spending.

"This is an exciting time because it provides an opportunity to do things we have never done before," Reid said of Nevada's budget problems and assertions from conservatives and liberals that state government needs major spending and revenue reform.

"Nevada has been doing the same old thing for decades; we've been reliant on tourism with some agriculture and mining thrown in," he said. "This is a time when we can expand our economy, do new things, and I want to be a part of that."

Reid is the only widely recognized Democrat in the race. On the Republican side, former federal Judge Brian Sandoval leads all candidates in statewide polls. Gibbons has high unfavorable ratings and is considered a long shot to win another term. Former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon is struggling to achieve statewide name recognition.

Reid said he isn't concerned by polling results that show him trailing Sandoval by 22 percentage points in a potential general election matchup.

"Polls this early in the race aren't relevant. What is relevant is what you say and the kind of organization you build so you can communicate that message to people," Reid said. "And we're doing those things very well, and I'm confident we'll win."

In the latest statewide survey by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research likely voters picked Reid over Gibbons 42 percent to 38 percent. But the same respondents picked Sandoval over Reid 51 percent to 29 percent. Among potential primary voters, Sandoval was favored by 37 percent of Republicans, Gibbons by 30 percent and Montandon 9 percent.

Brad Coker, managing director of Mason-Dixon, said the polling shows Reid's best chance to become governor is for Gibbons to survive the Republican primary.

"If Gibbons wins the nomination, I think Reid has a pretty good shot," Coker said.

When asked Tuesday about his revenue and spending priorities, Reid referred to a 30-page vision statement he published in October that calls for more alternative energy development, improving Nevada's schools and universities and updating the state's infrastructure.

Among specifics in Reid's plan are a proposal to require a long-term plan for infrastructure building, ordering a performance review of government to reduce wasteful spending and providing tax credits to businesses that hire new workers.

Reid said his campaign was more substantive than those of his opponents, but he did not specify how he might balance the budget in 2011 when state government expenses might outstrip revenue more than $3 billion.

"None of us know what the facts will be in January of 2011 when that budget is proposed," he said. "Rather than speculate, I am going to talk about things I can do now to create jobs."

He said his performance on the County Commission is evidence he would be ready to deal with the state's finances.

"I have balanced a budget that is nearly as large as the state's general fund seven years in a row without raising anyone's taxes," Reid said.

In that time, there have been increases in sales tax rates, some property tax rates, water rates and fees.

Reid said it would be a good idea to enact annual sessions of the Legislature. The Legislature meets once for 120 days every two years and uses the Interim Finance Committee or special legislative sessions to solve problems that crop up in between regular sessions.

Reid said county government is better able to stay ahead of crises because commissioners meet every two weeks and can deal with problems as they arise.

Such a change would take years to implement. Voters would have to approve annual sessions by initiative. Or the Nevada Legislature would have to pass a bill during two successive sessions and then put the measure on the ballot for final approval.

Reid criticized Gibbons for proposing cuts to education and said that quality education for residents is the foundation for changes he wants to see in the economy.

During a recent special session of the Legislature called to cover an $887 million shortfall, Gibbons proposed 10 percent cuts to K-12 spending and more than 12 percent in cuts to higher education. Democratic leaders in the Legislature at first said they wanted to balance the budget without education cuts, then said they did not want cuts to exceed 5 percent and then eventually agreed to a cut of 6.9 percent.

Reid characterized the budget session as "taking out our bubble gum and Scotch tape and piecing it back together" but said if he were sitting at the governor's desk today, he would sign the compromise plan.

"A bipartisan group of legislators came together and did the best they could at the time. So, yes, I would sign the bill," Reid said.

"What I'm saying is my candidacy is about ensuring that we are not in that situation again, that we are not faced with that kind of choice, and if we do what I've suggested, we won't be."

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.