For state Senate, for state balance

With so many Nevada businesses barely holding on, and so many thousands of Nevadans in need of work, shouldn't employers have a voice in the Legislature? Shouldn't their policy priorities have a chance to be heard in committee hearings? Shouldn't they have the opportunity to counter the influence of the labor unions and local government bureaucrats who demand ever-greater sums of tax dollars for themselves, while supporting nothing in the way of reform in return?

These are the stakes in this fall's election. More than anything else, Carson City needs political balance. Democratic lawmakers currently control both chambers of the Nevada Legislature. They have a firm grip on the Assembly - a 26-16 majority that could change by a couple of seats, but not enough to put Republicans in charge. However, Democrats have the slimmest of majorities in the Senate: 11-10. If Democrats preserve their majorities in both chambers, they can keep pro-business, reform-oriented legislation from ever receiving a full hearing.

Ten Senate races are on the ballot in Clark County, but only four of those districts are considered competitive: These four districts have relatively equal numbers of registered Democratic and Republican voters, as well as a significant number of nonpartisan and minor-party voters. These four races, along with the toss-up Senate race in Washoe County between GOP incumbent Greg Brower and Democratic challenger Sheila Leslie, will determine whether the Legislature has balance in 2013. If Republicans win four out of the five races, they'll have an 11-10 majority for the 2013 session. If Democrats win two of the five, they'll keep control of the Senate, and if they win all five, Democrats will gain a 14-7, veto-proof supermajority.

Carson City needs balance. Nevada's battered economy will not be well served by one-party rule in the capital. Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval can only play so much defense. He needs a chamber where his education and economic agenda can be heard. He needs a Republican Senate.

Fortunately for Southern Nevada voters, the slate of Republican candidates for state Senate is unusually strong this year.

In District 5, Republican Steve Kirk, a businessman and former Henderson city councilman, faces Democrat Joyce Woodhouse, a retired Clark County School District educator and one-time senator who lost re-election in 2010, for the seat being vacated by the retiring Shirley Breeden. Mr. Kirk understands the burdens public-sector unions put on governments and the taxpayers who fund them, and he's keenly aware that higher taxes on barely profitable businesses will result in even higher unemployment. Ms. Woodhouse is a reliable defender of government and a vote for the union agenda. Voters should elect Steve Kirk.

The District 6 seat is being vacated by Democrat Allison Copening. Republican Mark Hutchison, an attorney and former state ethics commissioner, is running against Democrat Benny Yerushalmi, a businessman who lost his bid for Senate District 9 in 2010. Mr. Hutchison led Nevada's challenge to the constitutionality of ObamaCare. He favors both school choice and a strong public school system, and he wants transparency and accountability in collective bargaining. We like Mr. Yerushalmi's promise of independence, but if Democrats maintain their majority, he won't get the opportunity to show it. Mark Hutchison is one of the best candidates on the ballot.

In District 9, Republican Mari Nakashima St. Martin faces Democratic attorney Justin Jones to complete the term of Republican Elizabeth Halseth, who resigned. Ms. St. Martin vows to advocate for businesses and oppose any tax that would create a disincentive for hiring. Mr. Jones was sanctioned and fined last month by District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez for demonstrating "an intention to deceive the court" about the availability of evidence while representing Las Vegas Sands in a civil lawsuit. As far as state policy goes, Mr. Jones is evasive on tax issues, yet very supportive of increased spending, especially the reduction of class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, which already have the smallest class sizes in public education. His pledge to "stand up to leadership" isn't credible. Mari Nakashima St. Martin is the much better choice.

Republican Assemblyman Scott Hammond, a high school teacher, is seeking elevation to the newly drawn, vacant District 18 seat. Mr. Hammond vows to roll back spending, cut taxes and provide "a sound economic footing that will motivate job growth." He favors school vouchers and seeks a strong role for Nevada in Internet gaming. He's challenged by Kelli Ross, wife of Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross. Mrs. Ross would seek higher taxes and is intransigent in her support of binding arbitration and automatic "step" pay raises for government employees, as well as her opposition to school choice. The thoughtful Scott Hammond is the better candidate.

Make your vote an informed one.