Interviews set Tuesday for Raggio’s replacement

CARSON CITY -- Former U.S. Attorney Greg Brower, ex-state Treasurer Patty Cafferata and former state Tax Commission Chairwoman Barbara Smith Campbell head up the known list of candidates applying to replace Bill Raggio in the state Senate.

Washoe County commissioners will interview and select a replacement to fill the last two years of Raggio's term at a meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Reno.

Candidates must live in Raggio's Senate District 3 in Washoe County and, like him, be a member of the Republican Party.

Raggio, R-Reno, 84, announced last week he was retiring effective Friday because of mobility problems.

He has been a state senator since 1972, and before then served 18 years as Washoe County district attorney.

Names of all candidates who filed for the vacancy will not be released officially before Tuesday's meeting.

But known candidates include:

■ Brower, the former U.S. attorney and a two-term assemblyman from Reno. He was defeated by Sharron Angle when he ran for a third Assembly term. Brower is a graduate of Bonanza High School in Las Vegas and is a partner in Snell & Wilmer's law firm.

■ Cafferata, the Republican state treasurer from 1983 to 1987 , who has been a district attorney of three rural counties, a single-term Assembly member, unsuccessful candidate for governor, and executive director of the state Ethics Commission. Her mother is former Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, R-Nev.

■ Smith Campbell, a 20-year member and former chairwoman of the state Tax Commission and a past member of the Spending and Efficiency in Government (Sage) Commission. She heads Consensus LLC and is a former financial officer and controller for Mandalay Development.

■ Dan Reaser, Reno-based lawyer for Lionel Sawyer and Collins law firm who often handles gaming matters, and a former state deputy attorney general.

■ Toni Harsh, former Reno City Council member.

■ Mike Weber, Reno businessman

■ Jim Galloway, former Washoe County commissioner.

■ Kevin Christensen, former Washoe County School Board member.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.