For Assembly

The Review-Journal provided some Assembly endorsements in Wednesday's edition. Here are the editorial board's remaining endorsements in the Legislature's lower chamber:

In District 1, incumbent Democrat Marilyn Kirkpatrick is justifiably unopposed. She was named the best Assembly member in the Review-Journal's 2011 survey of lawmakers, journalists and lobbyists.

In District 2, incumbent Republican John Hambrick has been a fine advocate for public safety and fiscal responsibility. He is unopposed.

District 5 incumbent Marilyn Dondero Loop is a retired teacher who doesn't support significant education, collective bargaining or pension reforms. She was one of six Assembly Democrats who had to submit revised campaign contribution and expense reports this year; they were treating campaign money as secondary income and had not reported spending some of their donations on personal costs. Republican Bill Harrington, an emergency room doctor, served one term in the Assembly in the mid-'90s. He favors school choice and getting the state out of the way of small business. The Review-Journal endorses Bill Harrington.

In District 6, incumbent Democrat Harvey Munford is unopposed.

In District 7, Democrat Dina Neal wants to reform the state's tax structure to provide relief to small business, and she supports Gov. Brian Sandoval's economic development plan. The Review-Journal endorses Dina Neal over Republican Brent Leavitt.

District 8 incumbent Jason Frierson, a Democrat, was named the best Assembly freshman in the Review-Journal's 2011 lawmaker rating survey. The attorney is a much better choice than Republican Arthur Martinez, a deputy in the troubled Las Vegas constable's office who has worn his uniform while campaigning.

In open District 9, the residency of Democrat Andrew Martin is under court review. The evidence produced by the campaign of Republican Kelly Hurst is compelling enough to give voters reason to doubt Mr. Martin's eligibility and integrity. Kelly Hurst, who has helped run family businesses and supports school vouchers and zero-based budgeting, is the better choice.

In District 10, incumbent Democrat Joe Hogan is one of the Legislature's staunchest public-sector defenders. Republican engineer Tim Farrell, who wants to rein in the Nanny State, change course in the war on drugs and champion small business, gets our endorsement.

District 11 incumbent Olivia Diaz, an unopposed Democrat, was named the fourth-best Assembly freshman in last year's Review-Journal survey.

In District 12, incumbent Democrat James Ohrenschall, who has shown enough independence to defy party leadership and side with Republicans on some issues, gets our endorsement over promising Republican challenger Bridgette Bryant.

In open District 13, the Review-Journal endorses Republican businessman and school-choice advocate Paul Anderson over Democrat Louis DeSalvio, a trade union official.

District 14 incumbent Democrat Maggie Carlton, a former Culinary union shop steward, was named the third-worst member of the Assembly last year. The Review-Journal endorses Republican Amy Groves, a small businesswoman who favors school choice and a tax structure that doesn't punish hiring.

In District 15, the Review-Journal endorses incumbent Democrat Elliot Anderson, a neighborhood advocate and Marine veteran who served in Afghanistan, over Republican real estate agent Megan Heryet.

In open District 16, Democrat Heidi Swank, a historic neighborhood advocate and former UNLV professor, is the clear choice over Republican cabdriver Ben Boarman.

In District 17, Democratic incumbent Steven Brooks gets our endorsement over Republican Len Marciano, who has almost no campaign to speak of.

In District 18, incumbent Democrat Richard Carrillo is unopposed.

In open District 20, one-time Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel, a Democrat, is back on the ballot after losing a re-election bid in 2010, this time facing Republican Eric Mendoza. Ms. Spiegel blamed that loss on Review-Journal editorial writer and columnist Glenn Cook. Ms. Spiegel and her lawyer threatened to sue Mr. Cook and the Review-Journal for libel. No lawsuit was ever filed. Politics is not for the thin-skinned or those who do not wish to be held accountable for their own statements. Anyone who would try to intimidate a journalist and a newspaper with the empty threat of an obviously groundless lawsuit isn't fit for public office. The Review-Journal offers no endorsement in Assembly District 20.

In District 22, the Review-Journal strongly endorses Republican incumbent Lynn Stewart, a sensible lawmaker and retired schoolteacher who wants performance-based pay in public education, over his Democratic challenger, Randy Spoor.

In District 23, Republican incumbent Melissa Woodbury is the easy choice over Democratic challenger Michael Joe.

District 34 incumbent Democrat William Horne took a trip to London on the dime of Internet gaming company PokerStars, then introduced the company's favored legislation to legalize Internet poker. Right cause, entirely wrong way to handle it. The Review-Journal endorses Republican Clark Harrington.

In open District 36, which covers northwestern Clark County, Lincoln County and Nye County, the Review-Journal endorses Republican James Oscarson over Democrat Anthony Wernicke, a perennial candidate.

In District 42, incumbent Democrat Irene Bustamante Adams was rated the third-best Assembly freshman in last year's Review-Journal survey. She supports reforming the punitive payroll tax and largely favors the transparency agenda of Assemblyman Pat Hickey, R-Reno. The Review-Journal endorses Irene Bustamante Adams over Republican challenger Robert McEntee.