2012 Voter Guide: Nevada Assembly District 22

If you have not met Randy Spoor, you probably will. The Assembly District 22 candidate said he is trying to knock on every door and meet all 64,000 of his neighbors before the Nov. 6 election.

Spoor lost the primary election two years ago but said his interest in running has only increased since 2010.

"My opposition to the incumbent's voting record compelled me to fight again," Spoor said.

The incumbent is three-term Republican Assemblyman Lynn Stewart, the assistant minority floor leader and a member of the committees on Legislative Operations and Elections, Education, Government Affairs, and Taxation.

Spoor said he disagreed with many of Stewart's votes, including voting against prohibiting the use of cellphones while driving; voting against discrimination in housing; voting against discriminatory employment practices based on gender or expression; and voting against domestic partnerships.

Stewart said he voted against the cellphone bill because he "thought it was too restrictive, too nanny." He said he may have voted for it had it covered just texting and that police told him laws already existed against distracted driving.

"I appreciate the concept and don't advocate people doing it, but I felt it was already covered," he said.

On the issues of discrimination in housing and employment, Stewart said those bills put too many restrictions on the property and business owners. He said the bill would not allow owners to be able to control the business and could be detrimental to its value .

"I don't like discrimination," Stewart said. "I don't like owners to discriminate unfairly, but I thought this was being unfair to the business owner."

On the issue of domestic partnerships, Stewart said he is "just very much in favor of the traditional family," though he does support some measures for gay couples, such as allowing hospital visits for partners.

Both candidates said education reform was one of their top priorities.

Stewart, a former teacher at Boulder City High School, said he favors, and tried to implement, a "pay-for-performance" system for teachers. The merit system would be based on students' test scores, student and parent evaluations, principal evaluations and special achievement or activities outside the classroom.

Stewart also said he wants a uniform testing system among all states, so Nevada's education performance can be properly compared to other s'. Stewart said some of the states with the highest graduation rates do not require high school students to pass proficiency exams as Nevada does.

Spoor, whose daughter teaches at Smalley Elementary School in Henderson, said principals "don't have enough authority" to get rid of bad teachers.

"I don't disagree with tenure. ... (But) if they're not a good teacher, then they shouldn't be teaching."

Spoor also said he would like to see education funded by a state lottery.

Stewart does not support a state lottery because it could be detrimental to casinos, he said.

Casinos are struggling as it is, Stewart said. "The gaming industry here is our economic driving force, and we need to protect it as much as possible."

Contact View reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 224-5524.