Good news for Clark County

When Democrats seized control of the state Senate in this month's election, the power shift went far beyond party lines. The Legislature's upper chamber, long run by Northern Nevadans, will be directed by Southern Nevadans in 2009.

For years, Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, used his position as majority leader and Finance Committee chairman to protect Northern Nevada interests at the expense of Clark County. Sen. Raggio's standing always compensated for his region's lack of numbers in the Capitol, whether lawmakers were taking up university system spending, highway funding or legislative pork.

Last year, Northern and rural Nevada Republicans chaired six of the Senate's nine committees. Next year, Clark County Democrats will chair eight of the nine panels, with Majority Leader Steven Horsford of Las Vegas co-chairing the Finance Committee alongside Reno's Bernice Mathews.

It's worth noting that Sen. Horsford, who announced his committee chairmanships Thursday, had little choice in his regional breakdown; Sen. Mathews is the Senate's only Democrat outside Clark County.

"We must end any perception, real or perceived, that there is a north-south split on issues," Sen. Horsford said. He also took time to say all the right things about Sen. Raggio's tenure as majority leader, lauding that "he has worked for the good of the state as a whole."

Really? One need only look at the extravagant half-billion-dollar highway being built between Reno and Carson City for evidence that Sen. Raggio sees Southern Nevada as a slush fund for his pet projects. His relegation to minority status is wonderful news for Clark County.

The down side of this transition, however, is that far-left Democrats now are in charge of a handful of committees. For instance, Maggie Carlton of Las Vegas, who's as openly hostile toward business as any member of the Legislature, will run the Commerce and Labor Committee.

With the state staring into what could be a $1.5 billion budget deficit and little hope for a speedy economic recovery, such leadership doesn't bode well for the pocketbooks of Nevadans.

Still, Sen. Horsford appears committed to keeping a leash on the tax-hiking urges of his charges, saying, "Every family in Nevada is figuring out how to balance its budget. State government has to do the same."

We hope Sen. Horsford keeps his word. There is no reason yet to question his sincerity -- about taxes or regionalism.

The ascension of Southern Nevadans to the top of the state Senate doesn't mean they'll put the screws to the other 16 counties. Rather, it means a return to fundamental fairness in funding and policy priorities.

It's about time.