2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 13

The race for Assembly District 13 is a crowded one, with three Democrats and two Republicans vying for the seat.

The district is also closely divided in voter registration, with 10,160 Democrats, 11,310 Republicans and 4,378 non-partisan.

On the Democratic side, Louis Desalvio, Leisa Moseley and Kelly Charles are seeking the nomination.

Desalvio ran unsuccessfully for the Assembly in 2010.

On the issue of taxes Desalvio said the Legislature should consider further restrictions for the classification of workers as independent contractors instead of employees, which deprives the state of tax revenue, before tackling a tax increase.

"It is a huge, huge loss in tax revenues that could be put back into the system," Desalvio said.

He also criticized Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval's suggestion that a good solution to the state's budget woes would be to extend the lifespan of temporary taxes on sales and employment that were scheduled to expire.

"The problem I have with that is that is just a Band-Aid on a wound," Desalvio said. "It was just a political move."

On education Desalvio said not enough of the money the state already spends on schools is making its way into classrooms.

"Our kids are supposed to come first," he said. "Everybody else in the private sector is taking cuts in salary and pay. When is that going to happen in the School Board at the administrative level?"

Moseley was noncommittal when asked if she favored any tax increases.

"I won't say I favor any kind of tax increases, but I won't say I'm opposed to all ideas ... to bring revenue to our state," Moseley said. 

On education, she favors setting aside revenue that can only be spent on schools, as opposed to being sucked into other parts of state government.

Moseley also said Nevada should look at ideas such as the First Five program in California, which uses a tobacco tax to raise money for early childhood development.

"I think the Legislature has to look very closely and seriously at other ways to generate revenue for our schools," she said.

The other Democrat in the race, Kelly Charles, served in the Marines from 1982 to 1989 and said he would be open to a tax increase in the form of a broad-based business tax that spreads the burden of generating state revenue beyond traditional sectors such as gambling.

But he added he would like to see a reduction or elimination of taxes or fees that get in the way of small businesses, such as the $200 business license fee.

"You don't want to have any barriers to entry for small businesses, that is how we made this country the way it is," Charles said.

On education, Charles said he would support incentives to encourage the best teachers to work at the lowest-performing schools.

"We need something to get the best people in the schools that are struggling the most. That goes from administration down to every teacher as well," he said.

On the economy and unemployment, Charles said the Legislature should look outside the gambling and construction industries as sources of new jobs, as other industries such as alternative energy are more likely to be ready to grow.

"I don't think we have any new casinos coming online in the near future which are going to provide 10,000 people jobs," he said.

On the Republican side, Paul Anderson and Leonard Foster are vying for their party's nomination.

Anderson said he's not in favor of any tax increases, including those on gambling and mining, and wouldn't necessarily support Sandoval's idea to extend the temporary taxes.

"That is something we will certainly have to look at," Anderson aid.

On education, Anderson said he supports Sandoval's efforts to expand school choice, including private school vouchers. And he said he thinks principals should have more control and accountability in their own schools.

"What I've seen works best is when you allow the principal at each school to make choices that are specific to that school," he said.

Foster is adamant that he would oppose tax increases, saying the state should make spending cuts if it is having a hard time balancing the budget.

"That has to be looked at first before you even think about raising taxes," Foster said. "It just doesn't make any sense to raise taxes just to raise taxes."

Foster also said Sandoval spoke too soon when he suggested extending the life of the temporary taxes.

"Since the session is not for another year, I think the governor is premature on that," he said. "We don't know what it is going to look like a year from now. We were promised those taxes would go away."

On the issue of education, Foster said he supports programs that would create more competition with traditional public schools, adding he thinks it would be good for students, teachers and taxpayers.

"That natural competition will improve the school district and improve the salaries of the teachers," he said. "Teachers who are doing great will be rewarded or they will go somewhere else."

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.