For Assembly

The Review-Journal offers the following endorsements for the Nevada Assembly.

In District 3, Democrat Peggy Pierce is the kind of politician Nevada's small business owners use to frighten their children. "Nevada's 25-year experiment in ever smaller government and low, low, low taxes have brought nothing but failure," Ms. Pierce complains. Nevada's entrepreneurs and small business owners may believe the Review-Journal editorial board and the free-market Nevada Policy Research Institute "can save them, but you can't save them," she declares, pointing a threatening finger - presumably in reference to the gross receipts tax she favors. Republican Phyllis McGuire Moilanen is the better choice.

In District 4, local home health care business owner Michele Fiore declares that paying a sensible average $20 per hour to workers on public-sector construction projects - instead of the inflated $42 per hour or more mandated by the state's prevailing wage law - would save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 10 years. She also favors repeal or reform of binding arbitration in settling teacher contract disputes. Voters should send the energetic Michele Fiore over Democrat Kenneth Evans.

In District 19, incumbent Cresent Hardy is an excellent, common-sense representative who favors repealing the prevailing wage law for government construction projects. He also favors a school voucher program, pointing out that "14 years ago, Florida and Nevada were on the same page (in education); now they're at the top of the heap, and we're still at the bottom." The Republican warns that if the state pension system is not reformed "the whole system is going to go bankrupt." He favors a law that would return federal land to Nevada, adding that "Gold Butte doesn't meet any of the criteria of a wilderness." Cresent Hardy is an easy choice over Democratic challenger Felipe Rodriguez, an enthusiastic time-share salesman who has a cliche for every question and would, unfortunately, kowtow to the many public-sector unions that have graced him with their endorsements.

In District 21, debt management attorney Becky Harris says constituents want more school choice, pointing out that parents are "clamoring" for admission to a local charter school. The Republican wants to dial back the state's foreclosure prevention law, AB284, which has distorted the local housing market by keeping too many properties in limbo. And she believes it would be better for the elected boards to make the final decision on public employee contract disputes, not an unelected, out-of-state arbitrator. Democrat Andy Eisen, a thoughtful pediatrician and medical school professor, vows to be open to both sides of every issue, but he has public employee endorsements for a reason. Becky Harris is the better choice.

In District 29, Republican Bob Irwin is challenging incumbent Democrat April Mastroluca. Mr. Irwin, a gun store owner who used to work part-time as a bailiff and deputy constable in Boulder City, points out that every vacant storefront around town "represents five, six, seven jobs that aren't here - and the Democrats want to tax even businesses that aren't making money" with a gross receipts tax. Ms. Mastroluca, who works for the PTA, "has been the voice of the teachers union," says Mr. Irwin, who favors charter schools and parent choice. "She proposes things that help the union, not the kids." The Review-Journal endorses Bob Irwin.

In District 35, Republican Tom Blanchard, who's in the real estate business, faces Democrat James Healey, who's in charge of housekeeping at New York-New York. Mr. Blanchard says less government interference would get Nevada's housing market functioning again. He's also for performance-based budgeting and school vouchers. Mr. Healey opposes openness in collective bargaining and reforms to binding arbitration. Tom Blanchard's small business experience makes him the better choice.

In District 37, incumbent Democrat Marcus Conklin is an effective lawmaker who favors an educated workforce and a stable tax climate. However, Republican Wesley Duncan, a former Air Force JAG officer, is an outstanding candidate who favors school choice and collective bargaining reform - including making the process of negotiating public employee contracts "absolutely open" to the public. Mr. Duncan also wants to broaden sales and use taxes to bring down the rates, and he "would like to see the payroll tax go away." The Review-Journal endorses Wesley Duncan.

Many legislative candidates find themselves confronted with issues they've never heard of. And then there's District 41 challenger Phil Regeski, a civil engineer who has studied the issues and comes loaded for bear. He wants to repeal the state's expensive renewable energy mandates; create school vouchers for all Nevada parents; open public employee contract talks to public scrutiny; leave the final decision on public employee wages and benefits to elected bodies answerable to the public; and deregulate the electric power industry. Compared to extremely liberal and ineffective Democrat Paul Aizley - who famously proposed banning the use of air fresheners and candles in public places - Phil Regeski is by far the better choice in District 41, and he's one of the better candidates in the field this year.