2012 Voter Guide: Nevada Senate District 19

Five-term Assemblyman Pete Goicoechea will have to fend off opponents from the left and the right as he tries to move into the newly expanded District 19 seat in the state Senate.

The Republican rancher from Eureka County has drawn challenges from Pahrump Democrat Harley Kulkin and Elko County Independent American Janine Hansen.

All three candidates will need plenty of gasoline money.

District 19 stretches from Primm to Jackpot and takes in some or all of six counties - basically the entire eastern half of Nevada. If it were its own state, it would be the nation's 24th largest.

"It includes a little over 500 miles of U.S. 93, one way," said Goicoechea. "It borders on insanity, it really does."

Added Hansen: "I have put so many miles on my car and myself."

The district is home to 54,400 active registered voters - fewer than one per square mile - and Republicans outnumber Democrats by almost 11,500.

Goicoechea isn't just looking for a change in scenery. He's looking for a change in attitude. He thinks there is a "better than 50-50 chance" that the Republicans will take control of the state Senate in November, something of which the former minority leader of the Assembly would love to be a part.

"I really hope we can bring some balance to the Legislature," he said.

If elected, the third-generation rancher said he would continue his work to protect the major industries - mining and agriculture - in what he called Nevada's "last truly rural Senate seat."

To him that means keeping taxes low. "We can't lead the nation in unemployment and think we can tax our way out of it. I think it takes a favorable business climate," he said.

Kulkin advocates the opposite. The Pahrump Town Board member said Goicoechea's approach amounts to shuffling the same cards and expecting a different hand.

"Nevada needs a new business plan. It's that simple. And we're not going to get a new business plan unless we put some new people in office," Kulkin said.

He wants to raise taxes on the state's large, corporately owned mines and casinos and direct all of the proceeds to education. If Nevada can raise its schools from the bottom of the barrel to the top 10 in the nation, "we'd see a lot more people wanting to move to Nevada and open businesses," he said.

The average citizen already pays enough in taxes, Kulkin said. Corporations, including those reaping huge profits right now, must pay their fair share, he added.

Hansen strongly disagrees. In fact, she said even Goicoechea is too "liberal" on taxes, despite his claim to being an "ultra conservative."

The conservative activist and regular candidate from a family of perennial office seekers said she decided to run to keep the Independent American Party on the ballot and give voters a "real conservative choice."

She said she would fight any tax increase and push for reduced state spending and major education reforms such as those proposed by Gov. Brian Sandoval.

As state president of Phyllis Schlafly's staunchly conservative, Eagle Forum, Hansen regularly goes to Carson City to work as an activist when the Legislature is in session.

"What I see there is a large number of government lobbyists ... all working to increase the size and scope of government," she said.

Win or lose, Hansen said she will be right back in the state capital early next year to continue her fight against that.

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350.