Assemblywoman Diaz gives birth to son in Carson City

CARSON CITY -- Records are not kept of legislators having babies, but Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz, D-North Las Vegas, appears to have become the first legislator in state history to give birth while the Legislature was in session.

Diaz, who represents District 11, gave birth about 11:30 a.m. Sunday to a 7-pound, 13-ounce boy whom she and her husband, Frank Alejandre, named Xavier Carson. The baby was born at the Carson-Tahoe Hospital.

Diaz, 32, was released from the hospital Monday afternoon. The baby is her first child. She also has two stepsons.

A freshman, Diaz intends to return to legislative work as soon as possible, said Assemblywoman Marilyn Kirkpatrick, D-North Las Vegas.

"Give her a few days," Kirkpatrick quipped.

The Assembly burst into cheers Monday when Kirkpatrick announced Diaz had given birth to a healthy son.

Diaz had announced before the session opened Feb. 7 that her parents would join her in Carson City to help take care of the baby. She said at that time that she hoped to return to work two weeks after delivery.

Her husband works for El Mundo, a Spanish-language newspaper in Las Vegas. He was present when the baby was born.

She arrived in Carson City in mid-January and has not been taking flights home on weekends on the advice of her doctor.

Legislative librarians do not keep records of legislators giving birth. But only a few female legislators are known to have had babies while in office.

The last was former Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas. Her son was delivered a few days after the end of the 2001 session.

Only a few women had served in the Legislature until the 1980s. Now, 18 of the 63 members are female.

Review-Journal report Ben Spillman contributed to this story. Contact reporter Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.