STATE SENATE DISTRICT 3

Voters in Senate District 3 have a choice between two Democrats on Election Day, longtime incumbent Valerie Wiener, who is seeking her final term in the Legislature, and political newcomer Anthony Wernicke.

Wiener, a member of the Senate since 1997, is facing her last election to the position because of term limits.

Wernicke, a former Republican who in the past year switched parties, said he intends to represent "the little guy" if elected.

Wiener said she will continue to push her legislative agenda if re-elected, one that focuses on the protection of seniors, the health and well-being of children and consumer issues such as identity theft.

Wiener has a bill being drafted to prohibit cyber-bullying. She said she would like to work to financially protect renters when the homes they are living in are being foreclosed upon.

Wernicke said he decided to run against Wiener because she is a career politician.

If elected, Wernicke said, he would vote in every situation based on the needs of the people in his district.

One issue he would like to tackle is Nevada's status as a "right to work" state in which employees serve at the pleasure of their employers. There should be a process to give workers some rights over their employment, such as an arbitration system, to prevent people from being fired without cause, Wernicke said.

Both candidates were somewhat vague on how to deal with the state's budget crisis.

Wiener said state programs already have been cut to the bone but might require further reductions given the opposition by Gov. Jim Gibbons and others to any tax increases.

Wiener said she will do all she can to protect programs for seniors and children, a position that Wernicke said he also supports.

Wernicke said that if he were forced to make difficult budget cuts to balance the budget, he would explain to his constituents the reasons for doing so.

Contact reporter Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.