Physician, Congregation Ner Tamid president enter 3rd Congressional District race

Two candidates filed Tuesday to run in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, an open race that already is competitive.

Annette Teijeiro is seeking the GOP nomination; Jacky Rosen the Democratic nomination.

Teijeiro, a medical doctor, said she would bring a unique perspective to Congress as a female physician. She said important issues include addressing the health care needs of a growing senior citizen population, ensuring that veterans get the care they need and growing the economy.

Teijeiro ran unsuccessfully on the Republican ticket in 2014 against incumbent U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., in the 1st Congressional District.

Rosen is president of Congregation Ner Tamid in Henderson. She has worked as a computer programmer, designer and software developer for companies such as Summa Corp., Southwest Gas Corp. and Citibank.

Rosen said she wants to focus on issues that include education, transportation and expanding renewable energy in Nevada.

“There’s a lot of things that we need to be forward-thinking about,” she said.

The race is wide open because incumbent U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., is running for the seat of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who is retiring.

Two other candidates entered the congressional district race Monday: Republican Kerry Bowers, a retired Air Force officer, and Democrat Alex Singer. Singer has volunteered on political campaigns in recent years.

The district goes south of the Las Vegas metropolitan area, covering Henderson and rural areas, including Searchlight and Laughlin.

In the 4th Congressional District, two Democratic candidates filed Tuesday: Susie Lee, a philanthropist; and Morse Arberry Jr., a former Nevada assemblyman.

“My career has been driven by serving people and getting results for people on the ground, and I think like many Americans, I’m frustrated by the dysfunction in Washington,” Lee said in an interview.

Lee has been president of Communities in Schools of Nevada, a nonprofit focused on boosting graduation rates, and led other organizations that help students, the homeless and veterans.

Arberry pleaded guilty in 2011 to a misdemeanor charge after inappropriately diverting $121,545 in campaign contributions to a personal checking account. Arberry couldn’t be reached Tuesday.

Two other Democrats have filed in the 4th District: state Sen. Ruben Kihuen and Mike Schaefer, who owns an apartment complex.

The incumbent, U.S. Rep. Cresent Hardy, R-Nev., is planning to run for a second two-year term.

The 4th District includes North Las Vegas and six rural counties.

The filing period started Monday and lasts through March 18. The primary election will be June 14, and the general election Nov. 8.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1.