GENERAL ELECTION GUIDE: Governor

RORY REID

Party: Democrat

Mailing Address: 6100 Elton Ave., Suite 1000 Las Vegas, NV 809107

Phone: 1-877-Rory-2010

Website: Rory2010.com

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking?

I am passionate about Nevada and its potential - but that potential is being squandered without a vision for what Nevada could be, or a plan to get there. I know that these tough times call for a serious, experienced leader with a plan to get Nevada on the right track. I have been an attorney and successful business executive, and currently lead the board of one of the largest and most complex county governments in the nation, providing services to more than 2 million residents.

Clark County's nearly $7 billion budget is nearly as large as the state's general fund, and for seven years, I have balanced the budget without raising taxes, while implementing a rainy day fund to hedge against economic downturns. And I led the effort to crack down on lobbying, prevent conflicts of interest, and eliminate gifts to elected officials.

For the past year I've been traveling the state meeting with people, getting their perspective on what's been happening in our state. Hardworking people are leaving the state because they've lost their job, or they worry their kids don't have access to a quality education. I believe I can help change the situation. It's a challenge I welcome.

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

For more than a year I've been listening to Nevadans to hear about the challenges we all face. It's clear renewing our commitment to education is the only way we will attract new jobs and rebuild our economy. As your governor, I will stand up to anyone who shortchanges education. I'll stand up to anyone who refuses to reform and strengthen our schools. I will never give up on our schools, our children or Nevada's future.

That's why I introduced my EDGE plan: Economic Development through Great Education. It is designed to transform education in our state and outlines an entirely new approach, from the top of state government down to every individual classroom and student desk.

It finally gives freedom and responsibility directly to the schools. It finally ensures standardized test scores aren't the only measure of success. It finally outlines steps to ensure world-class teachers lead every Nevada classroom. It finally gives parents the power to choose the school that is right for their child. It finally ends classroom micromanagement by Carson City.

There is nothing more important to me than tackling our challenges in education.

Why should voters choose you over the other candidates?

I am the only candidate to offer plans of substance in the race - on the economy, education and ethics. The other candidates in the governor's race have only proposed more of the same. They propose more cuts to our education system and offer no vision for the long-term future of our state. I am proposing a new direction for Nevada.

Nevada is at a crossroads and it is the responsibility of those seeking public office to lay out a clear, honest plan for Nevada and to follow it with the detailed steps we need to take. I will continue to provide details of how we move Nevada forward in education, economic development, clean energy, and a host of other areas.

I will continue traveling all over Nevada, talking with people from the north and south, from rural and urban areas, about what's going on in their workplaces, schools and neighborhoods. The conversation will continue. Nevada's future is bright it's time for an experienced and successful leader to take Nevada boldly forward into the 21st Century.

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BRIAN SANDOVAL

Party: Republican

Mailing Address: PO Box 370297, Las Vegas, NV 89137

Telephone: (702) 360-2010

E-mail: brian@briansandoval.com

Explain your background and how this qualifies you for the position you are seeking.

B.A., University of Nevada in 1986 ; J.D., Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1989. A former federal judge, I served as Nevada's attorney general, and as a member and chairman of Nevada Gaming Commission, which oversees Nevada's gaming industry. At age 35, I was the youngest person ever to serve as the state's chief gaming regulator. I also served for three years as Nevada's at-large member of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency governing board. The TRPA is a bi-state agency that governs land use policies at Lake Tahoe. Before my Gaming Commission and TRPA appointments, I served two terms in the Nevada Legislature.

What are the most important issues that you would address if elected?

As governor, I will balance the budget without raising taxes, reduce government spending and privatize and consolidate redundant services. I will fight to improve education through accountability, choice and local control of schools. Finally, I will aggressively recruit new businesses to Nevada, including personally visiting business owners to convince them to relocate here.

The reality is we have to become more aggressive in recruiting businesses to Nevada but equally important is protecting the invitation - keeping Nevada a low tax, business friendly environment. As governor, I will personally work to recruit new businesses to our state and keep the businesses we have in Nevada here. In order to get Nevada working again, it is vital that we diversify our economy to bring new and dynamic businesses to our state. Make no mistake, there will be tough decisions ahead of us, but I firmly believe that together, we can get Nevada working again.

Why should voters choose you over other candidate?

Experience. I have served in all three branches of government in Nevada, as a legislator, attorney general and as a federal judge. I have also served as the chief gaming regulator in Nevada.

Commitment. My entire adult life has been to serve the people of this state. I left my lifetime appointment as a federal judge because my commitment to the people of Nevada is more important than a lifetime appointment to the bench.

Vision. As governor, I will balance the budget without raising taxes, reduce government spending and privatize and consolidate redundant services. I will fight to improve education through accountability, choice and local control of schools. Finally, I will aggressively recruit new businesses to Nevada, including personally visiting business owners to convince them to relocate here.