Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal
Democrat Jill Derby says this election is one of the most important in the nation's history and one which emphasizes the clear choice voters in Congressional District 2 face.
She asked residents of 14 rural Nevada communities on a recent tour if they are better off now than eight years ago.
"Everywhere, people said 'no,' and that's what this election is about."
Republican Rep. Dean Heller, she said, has consistently voted with big business, the House Republicans and the president - voting against seniors, needy children and middle-class Americans. She said he voted against expansion of the children's health insurance program, voted against seniors by not allowing government to negotiate with health care companies and voted against the credit card holder's bill of rights.
"I think there's a clear choice that people can make," Derby said. "I don't care where my party goes, I'll be voting for what serves Nevadans."
Derby, who lost to Heller two years ago, said she thinks she has a better chance this year even though the polls show her a bit farther behind. She said those polls may well be "wildly wrong" because they don't sample any voters who rely on cell phones instead of a traditional phone. And those voters, she said, are mostly young and solidly Democrat.
"These days, you poll very few people under 30 because they don't have land lines," she said.
And, unlike two years ago when the under 30 turnout was very low, she said it is expected to be very strong Nov. 4.
Derby said fixing the economy is the big challenge facing Congress.
"The bailout as initially proposed by the Bush Administration was an outrage," she said. "Their bailout was directed at Washington. I thought it should be directed at people facing foreclosure. That's the root of the problem."
She said the federal government buying an equity interest in banks is also a step in the right direction because, if those banks recover, the people can get a lot of their money back.
"I think that works for me," she said.
She said she would support a stimulus package but thinks it should be directed at the nation's infrastructure - roads and bridges.
"And that puts people to work," she said. "Something that could put people back to work would be something we should focus on."
She said another key to helping the federal government's balance sheet is ending the Iraq War.
"We can't afford the $10 billion a month," she said. "When I think of our economic situation and the needs at home, we just can't afford it."
Derby said she has signed on to "The Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq."
She expressed frustration at Heller's refusal to debate her in Reno where the majority of the district's voters live. They debate Monday in Elko.
She objected to what she sees as unfair negative ads by Heller - especially the one describing her as the big spender on the Board of Regents. She said almost all of that spending was travel reimbursement for attending meetings in Reno, Las Vegas and Elko. She said her spending totaled about $100,000, while Heller's expense spending as Secretary of State was more than a half million.
And she objected to the suggestion her 18 years on that board makes her a professional politician.
"My 18 years was in a non-paying, non-partisan, volunteer position," she said. "His 18 years (two in Congress, 12 as Secretary of State and two Assembly terms) he was being paid to serve. He's in a glass house, and it's not wise to throw rocks."
"What I offer is a fresh approach," she said. "If you want to change Washington, you have to change the people we send to Washington, and Dean Heller represents more of the same as his record shows. He has voted with Bush and his party over 90 percent of the time."
"I'm optimistic we have an opportunity to get our values back," she said. "I think people are ready to do it."
• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.