Candidate filing begins Monday; cash, ID required

Elective offices in Nevada from U.S. Senate to improvement district boards are up for grabs beginning Monday.

All 42 Assembly and 10 of 21 state Senate seats are up for election. There are also a number of Carson City offices open including Carson City mayor.

Election officials say candidates this year must comply with a new state law requiring they present identification which bears their photograph and a current address - for most, a drivers' license. The law was passed in 2003 after several candidates filed for legislative seats even though they didn't live in the district.

In addition, candidates have to bring the cash to cover filing fees for whatever office they're seeking. The filing fees are set in state law and range from $500 for U.S. Senator to $30 for school board. Mayors, county commissioners and legislators are all set at $100. Area clerks don't accept checks or credit cards.

The final day to file for office is May 14.

The biggest races on the ballot is, obviously, for President of the United States. In addition to the Republican and Democratic candidates, several minor parties are qualified for the ballot in Nevada. The wildcard, however, is Ralph Nader's independent candidacy. If Nader's supporters want him on the ballot, they must collect at least 5,125 signatures - 1 percent of the turnout in the last general election - and file it with the Secretary of State's office by Aug. 13. Elections Division officials said Nader supporters have not begun collecting signatures.

Beyond that, the biggest races are the U.S. Senate seat held by Harry Reid and the House seat of Jim Gibbons. Both are overwhelming favorites for re-election. Gibbons will file Monday at the Secretary of State's office in Carson City. Reid is planning to mail in his documents because he is tied up with Senate business in Washington, D.C.

Carson City Clerk Alan Glover said there are two Assembly races on the Carson ballot this year. Incumbent Republican Ron Knecht will face former Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell in the District 40 race. Yerington Republican Tom Grady is the incumbent in District 38 representing North and eastern Carson City, Lyon and Storey counties. He is also on those county ballots. Storey County School Board member Cathylee James, a Democrat, has announced plans to challenge him.

Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, a Gardnerville Republican, is the incumbent in District 39. He will also be on Washoe County's ballot because he represents Incline Village. But even though Hettrick represents a small piece of Carson City, his name won't appear on the ballot because there are no residents in the Lake Tahoe portion of the capital district.

Douglas County residents will vote for a state Senate seat along with residents in six other counties which make up the Central Nevada Senatorial District. Incumbent Mike McGinness is expected to run for re-election.

But the question in many minds is about a State Senate race Carson and Douglas voters don't have a say in. Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, a 30-year veteran of that house said Friday he will seek another term. The third Northern Nevada Senate seat up this year is the Northern District seat held by Dean Rhoads.

There are three Supreme Court seats open this year. Miriam Shearing and Deborah Agosti are retiring from the bench. Appointee Michael Douglas will have to run to keep his seat another two years.

In addition to the legislative and federal races, there are local races in Douglas, Storey and Carson City. Carson City already has two announced candidates for mayor - two term incumbent Ray Masayko and former mayor Marv Teixeira. In addition, two seats on the board of supervisors are up. Incumbents Richard Staub and Shelly Aldean have said they will run again.

Douglas County has three commission seats on the ballot and a question on the primary ballot. The question asks voters if they want to dedicate utility fees to help fund senior centers in the valley and at the lake as well as the Tahoe library and a center for performing arts.

Storey has two commission seats open this year.

And all three counties have school board seats up for election - four each in Douglas and Storey and three in Carson City.

Contact Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.