2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 8

John Moore, a former Army Ranger and National Guard soldier who served in Iraq, will try to unseat incumbent Assemblyman Jason Frierson in the Democratic primary for District 8.

Frierson, a senior attorney in the Clark County district attorney's office, believes communication and collaboration among different political parties will be the keys to pulling Nevada out of the recession.

"Everybody needs to put their baggage aside and become open-minded," Frierson said.

His top priority if he's re-elected "is to focus on jobs, first and foremost, and try to help our state quicken our recovery and lower our unemployment rate."

Moore, too, is targeting jobs as his top goal.

"In our district, we have a lot of empty manufacturing facilities and warehouses."

Moore, who is making his first bid for public office, also wants to make sure veterans have all the resources they need when they return from war zones and that seniors have their medical needs resolved.

He said public education and teacher layoffs must be addressed.

If elected, Moore said his first bill would focus on foreclosure issues and forcing the biggest mortgage lenders in the state mediation program to sit down with homeowners at the bargaining table in good faith.

Frierson also wants to find consistent and reliable ways to provide for public education. He said a better education system will help attract jobs and employers who will then open up shop and expand their businesses in the state.

As for Gov. Brian Sandoval's plan to keep two more years of "temporary" tax increases in place, Frierson said, "We need to think more than two years at a time. We need to have a more long-term solution to our problem."

Asked if he would support cutting the state government's operating expenses again, Frierson thinks there isn't any fat left to trim "unless somebody can show me without risking lives or putting people out in the street."

Laying off state employees and teachers "would be grave mistakes," he said.

Moore also said he doesn't favor state employee or teacher layoffs, especially not teachers.

The winner will face Republican Arthur D. Martinez in November's general election.

Contact reporter Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308.