2012 Voter Guide: Nevada Assembly District 20

There will be a new representative for Assembly District 20, as the incumbent was pushed out of the race by redistricting.

Democrat Ellen Spiegel, a former assemblywoman, faces Republican Eric Mendoza, a newcomer to politics.

Spiegel served in the Legislature from 2008 until 2010, when she lost her bid for re-election.

Redistricting put her in a new district this time.

She said she is running because she missed her time in the Legislature. She thought she could do good work there that she cannot do outside.

"It was difficult for me to be sitting on the sidelines," she said.

She said the economy is the biggest issue facing Nevada.

"Encouraging business growth and diversification of the economy is No. 1 ," she said.

Lawmakers must make it easier for businesses to operate by cutting the bureaucracy, she said.

She said it is also a role of government to make sure people have access to safe health care. She pointed to the travails of Dr. Dipak Desai, majority owner of Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada. Prosecutors allege poor health practices at the clinic led to an outbreak of hepatitis C. Legislators should enact safeguards that prevent such behavior in the future, she said.

She also wants to funnel more money to education to reduce class sizes. She said it is difficult for teachers to teach and for children to learn when classes are too large.

"We have to be providing enough money for our education system, K through 16," she said.

She said she would not be in favor of any tax increase unless it was "absolutely necessary."

Mendoza said the housing crisis triggered his decision to run. He has children, and has been in Las Vegas most of his life. He wants to help improve the state.

"Whatever's going on with our state isn't working," he said.

He said his top priority would be reforming the education system, pointing to low graduation rates in the Clark County School District as proof that reform is needed.

He said he wants to employ a voucher system similar to those proposed elsewhere. Generally, such a system issues certificates to parents, who can use them to send their children to any school they choose, including private schools.

"Parents want a choice," Mendoza said.

He said creating jobs is the other major issue he would like to address. He said he would be in favor of cutting taxes and regulations, particularly on businesses. Such a move would allow those businesses to hire more people, which would have a ripple effect across the economy.

"Businesses don't want to be taxed to death," he said.

Mendoza said he might be in favor of a targeted tax increase at some point. He favors enforcing existing regulations on out-of-state entities that own property in Nevada that require them to have a local presence. He said they need to establish a Nevada corporation and get a local business license. The enforcement could raise money for the state, he said.

Democrats have an edge in the district: about 5,000 more registered voters than the Republicans have. There are also more than 4,000 registered as nonpartisan.

Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.