2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: STATE SENATE DISTRICT 18

The race for the new state Senate District 18 seat in northwest Las Vegas is a wide-open affair with three Republicans and two Democrats vying in separate June 12 primaries.

On the Republican side, District 13 Assemblyman Scott Hammond faces District 4 Assemblyman Richard McArthur in what could be a close race since the district contains parts of their current Assembly districts.

Conrad Vergara also is on the GOP ticket; he failed to return repeated phone calls.

On the Democratic side, Palm Mortuary employee Kelli Ross competes against Desert Research Institute employee Donna Schlemmer. Both are making their first bids for office.

This district had been centered in the middle of Nevada, but was awarded to Clark County through redistricting because it grew faster than the rest of the state. Republicans hold a 1,629-registered-voter advantage, which could give the Republican an advantage in the general election in November.

The McArthur-Hammond primary has been marked by acrimony. McArthur is not pleased that the Senate Republican Caucus backed Hammond over him, even though he has been a legislator longer and had a reputation as one of the more conservative members of the Assembly. He does not believe the party caucus should pick one Republican over another in a primary race.

He doesn't hesitate in knocking Hammond for supporting Gov. Brian Sandoval's decision last year to extend $620 million in sales and business taxes that otherwise would have expired. Sandoval already has announced he intends to extend the taxes again, and McArthur intends to vote no again if voters elect him to the Senate.

"Scott Hammond voted for these taxes," he said. "In Republican primaries, the more conservative candidates win. I am also one of the hardest workers. I have walked two-thirds of the district."

If elected, McArthur said he would propose legislation to reduce the number of bills legislators can introduce. Assembly members now can propose 13 bills and senators 26. McArthur would cut it to eight and 15, respectively. He thinks the current numbers are just too many and simply not necessary.

"We have a population of less than 3 million, and we pass over 600 bills every time. We just do not have time to read and pass all these bills."

Hammond acknowledges he did vote to extend the $620 million in taxes, but added overall state spending dropped by $500 million, and education reforms were approved. Counting the receipts of federal funds, Nevada's total spending did drop by that number. But he said he won't commit to further extending the taxes, saying legislators first need to see if adequate tax revenue is coming in.

Hammond favors parents having school choice and creating jobs by expanding Reno and Las Vegas as distribution hubs for foreign trade. He said he is a legislator who looks at a problem and tries to build a coalition to solve it.

"I don't want to talk bad about my opponent," Hammond said. "I like him as a person, but I am more of an optimist."

On the Democratic side, neither Schlemmer nor Ross would say anything negative about each other. Ross might have a name recognition edge since her husband, Steve, is a member of the Las Vegas City Council.

Ross calls herself a moderate who decided to run because she is tired of the partisanship in Carson City.

"Legislators need to work together," Ross said. "I don't care what side of the aisle legislation comes from, as long as it is good for the people. We have to quit blaming the other party for everything."

She supports extending the temporary taxes for two more years and also looking at the $1.2 billion business tax plan considered by Democrats in 2011.

"Our state is not getting enough revenue," Ross said. "We need to broaden the tax base. Larger businesses have to pay their fair share."

Schlemmer also favors extending the taxes, but isn't sure about other tax increases.

"I favor a review of the structure of our taxes. We are vulnerable to booms and busts. We need to diversify the economy and stabilize our revenues," Schlemmer said.

Education is her top concern. She said legislators need to find ways to make the school districts more efficient, and look at why schools promote so many people to administrative positions.

"This is a great time for us to decide what kind of a future we want for the state," Schlemmer said.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.