2 Democrats wrangle in Democratic primary for Clark County clerk

Incumbent Clark County Clerk Diana Alba dropped out of the Democratic primary race in March citing family illness, leaving candidates Lynn Goya and Louis DeSalvio to contend in the election.

The winner of the June 10 primary will face Republican candidate William Hols.

In March, Alba endorsed Goya for her education, professional experience and management skills.

Goya runs Goya Media, doing freelance writing and consulting for local and national publications. DeSalvio is the assistant training director at Laborers Local 872.

Both candidates were asked whether they would raise county clerk fees and whether the clerk’s office had adequate staff and technology to do its job.

DeSalvio said, if elected, he would order an audit of the clerk’s office before considering fee raises.

“At that point, I would have a clearer picture as to what immediate changes needed to be implemented,” DeSalvio wrote in an email.

Goya said fees for marriage licenses were recently raised and that the clerk’s office is considering adding a technology fee to help digitize documents.

In response to the adequacy of staffing and technology, DeSalvio said staffing was adequate but he would support additional training for staffers.

“Should Nevada state law change and marriage equality becomes a part of the equation, then at that point I am certain more employees will be needed, especially since we are known as the ‘marriage capital of the world,’ ” DeSalvio wrote.

Goya noted that marriage licenses have fallen from 128,000 per year in 2008 to about 80,000 last year, but she also expects an increase in demand if gay marriage is legalized in Nevada.

“While we have used technology and efficiency to maintain services during budget cuts, as the economy recovers the Clerk’s office might need to increase its staff to maintain the excellence of one of our core tourist attractions,” Goya wrote in an email.

As for technology, both candidates noted that the clerk’s office was in the process of converting paper files into digital records and supported the project. Goya, who has grant-writing experience, said she would seek grants to offset the technology and personnel costs associated with digitizing documents.

Contact Kristy Totten at ktotten@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3809. Find her on Twitter: @kristy_tea.