Heller, Krolicki and Sandoval

Secretary of State Dean Heller and Treasurer Brian Krolicki have earned the right to be returned to their offices, largely by helping move the state into the 21st century, and Brian Sandoval will be a strong addition to Nevada's leadership team as attorney general.

Heller, from Carson City, and Krolicki, who lives in Carson Valley, have proven themselves to be adept and innovative administrators.

Aside from tackling traditional challenges such as trying to straighten out Nevada's open-records laws and updating the elections process, Heller and staff have created for the Secretary of State's Office one of the most useful Web sites in state government.

Krolicki, who has come to the rescue a couple of times by finding investment funds to help ease the state's budget crunch, has also done extensive research to try to maximize tobacco-settlement funds. His push for pre-paid tuition to Nevada colleges is another example of his forward thinking on behalf of taxpayers.

Sandoval, a former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission and Assemblyman from Reno, is also a known quantity for voters to place in the attorney's general's position being vacated by Frankie Sue Del Papa.

He has shown a decisiveness and breadth of knowledge on issues that we expect in the state's top lawyer.

His opponent, Democrat John Hunt of Las Vegas, has more courtroom experience. But Sandoval has more background in public policy.

This race, a close one between two candidates who are capable of doing the job of attorney general, could have provided an opportunity for Nevada voters to focus on their leadership qualities. Unfortunately, it has devolved into a campaign of television attack advertisements, which diminishes them both.

We urge voters to reward Heller's and Krolicki's efforts by returning them to office, and to place Sandoval in the attorney general's chair.