2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 16

The race for Assembly District 16 is likely to be settled in the Democratic primary among Heidi Swank, Mike Schaefer and Jesse Cantero.

That's because the district, which includes the Strip and University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has about 4,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans.

Swank is the Democratic establishment favorite, having secured support from the Assembly Democratic Caucus.

In addition to her role at UNLV as a professor, Swank is well known in Las Vegas City Hall and around downtown as an advocate for the Beverly Green Neighborhood Association, of which she is president.

On the issue of taxes, Swank said that while no one wants to pay more money, the state should be spending more on education.

"No one wants to really raise taxes. We also have to find ways to make our education system better," she said. "That is the whole discussion we are going to have in Carson City, how can we better fund education."

She said the Legislature should consider ways to lower the cost of textbooks for students, particularly those in college. She also said funding for education should be set at the national average.

Schaefer has run in countless political races in California and Nevada, including a successful campaign for City Council in San Diego in the early 1970s.

An attorney by trade, although disbarred in Nevada, Schaefer said he would support making changes to the tax system but not at the expense of the gambling industry, which already pays much of the state's bills. He was disbarred after several complaints, including one in which he was said to have contacted a witness after a justice of the peace had prohibited it.

"I support broad-based taxes that don't single out any business. But I do not favor increasing the gaming tax. I think we have to do all we can to encourage the casinos to grow and keep profitable, because they are providing all the jobs," he said.

On the issue of the economy, Schaefer said he would work with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and others to encourage more people to visit Las Vegas for events, such as high school reunions.

He also supports setting aside money for school supplies that students often can't afford to pay for themselves.

"I'm appalled that teachers, especially K-12, have to put money out of their own pockets to buy supplies," Schaefer said.

Cantero did not return calls for an interview.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Benjamin Appel Boarman, the only GOP candidate on the ballot, in the Nov. 6 general election.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com.