The party that controls the Nevada Legislature after this election cycle will decide the whole redistricting of the state in 2011.  Gerrymandering is the process of redistricting to ensure that your party wins as many seats as possible every year.  This year, as with most, the majority of the races are already decided because of redistricting from the last go around.

If Democrats are able to pick up two more seats in the senate, they will have a super-majority in both houses of the Nevada Legislature.  That would give them full control over the process of redistricting.  If that happens, the Democrats will have a solid political advantage for at least the next ten years, and likely for much longer.

There are four notable senate races this year.  Two of the seats are open, one because of a surprise loss by incumbent Republican Sen. Dennis Nolan in the primaries to newbie Elizabeth Halseth.  Here’s the lineup:

1. Senate District 8: Incumbent Republican Barbara Cegavske vs. Democrat Tammy Peterson. Registered voters: 41 percent Democrat, 39 percent Republican, 20 percent other.

2. Senate District 5: Incumbent Democrat Joyce Woodhouse vs. Republican Michael Roberson. Registered voters: 41 percent Democrat, 39 percent Republican, 21 percent other.

3. Senate District 9: Democrat Benny Yerushalmi vs. Republican Elizabeth Halseth. Registered voters: 41 percent Democrat, 38 percent Republican, 22 percent other.

4. Senate District 12: Republican Assemblyman Joe Hardy vs. Democrat Aaron Ford. Registered voters: 39 percent Democrat, 40 percent Republican, 21 percent other.

Conservative commentator Chuck Muth points out that Republican incumbent Sen. Barbara Cegavske and Elizabeth Halseth are the two most likely to lose to Democrats.  That’s the two seats Democrats can realistically pick up.

The more difficult question is can the Democrats keep their seat in District 5 with Joyce Woodhouse?  Some suggest she’s vulnerable.  However, her party has a registration advantage in that district.  No doubt she’ll be working hard to solidify her base and get them to the poles.

Senator Woodhouse served as an educator here in Nevada before taking on responsibilities as our representative.  Her background and commitment to Nevada schools is appealing for those supporting education.

Michael Roberson moved to Nevada in 2000.  He is an attorney with the law firm Kolesar & Leatham.  He has his own plans for education.  He wants to “cut the education bureaucracy” and expand private charter schools.

So this is it!  This is one of those races that you should focus on.  Students and members of the community at large should pitch in and help whatever side they believe in, because there is a lot at stake here.

To find what district you live in, or to register to vote, go here.  The registration deadline is October 2nd.  Don’t procrastinate.

THIS YEAR, WE ARE FACING THE PROSPECT THAT TUITION MAY DOUBLE, TRIPLE, MAYBE MORE!

“In a country like this… if there can not be money found to answer the common purposes of education… it is evident that there is something amiss in the ruling political power.”

-George Washington 1^st President of the United States of America

I begin with an unusual title for this article because I ask whoever is reading this to decide.  Down the road we may develop an idea of socialist education (what the GOP claims Rory Reid wants to do): the schools are overloaded, the teachers are paid less than they already are and the schools are in the red (deficits).

Then there is the opposite, elitist education (what the NSDP claims Sandoval and Montandon wants to do and Gibbons is currently doing): very few kids go to school (usually from upper economic families who can afford private school tuition), the unemployment and drop out rates rise and kids are lost from finding what they want to do.

We can achieve the balance if we make an attempt.

Governor Jim Gibbons has made few attempts to help education.  In between 2007-2010 we have seen higher education cut their budgets drastically.  K-12 education is diminishing year after year.  Boards like the CCSD Board of Trustees, NSHE Board of Regents, the Nevada State Board of Education and the Legislative Interim Finance Committee are starting to really worry.

Who is also worrying?  How about the college students, the grade school students who understand the circumstances, the parents and more or less the community of Nevada?

The answer does not fall in socialist or elitist positions, rather education should be a well funded system that is regulated but is left to the schools to run the day to day operations and goal setting.  Teachers need to make the sacrifices for our future.   Administration needs to take the risk to save our future.  Government has to show the students and parents that they care about the futures of their constituents.

Student/parent inspiration is the final piece.   We need students feeling proud about their work and parents taking an active interest in their child’s future.

Dr. Michael Richards, CSN President

The Board of Regents made the following requirement to CSN and other colleges, plan the future of your schools in A.Q.D.  These letters stand for Access, Quality and Diversity; the CSN Strategic Planning Committee group came up with their report and suggestions – Quality being their most emphasized point (the committee consisted of faculty, administration, students and staff).  This was proper for many reasons; CSN has 43,000 students this year and CSN’s enrollment has grown exponentially over the past decade.  The capacity is stretching uncontrollably and services may need to be cut.

With Diversity being the cornerstone of this institution (Diversity in regards to student backgrounds, age backgrounds and fields of study offered), Access was cut back for several reasons including economics and logistics.  This is not the greatest thing that could of happened, but it is not a terrible idea and I hope one could understand why.

Without a rise in tuition (not fees) or a cap in enrollment, there will not be enough classes provided by CSN to the student body at the current levels.  Dr. Richards has been quoted several times saying that they already turn away 5,000 students because of full classes.  Unfortunately for moral and partisan reasons, the NSHE Board of Regents will never support or propose a rise of the price of tuition that I am recommending.  When we raise prices on goods it is called a cost of living increase.  Well this tuition raise could be called a COST OF EXISTING increase.

Economics is my basis but if CSN were to take away the price ceiling on tuition, the quantity demanded for classes will shorten but CSN will be able to increase quantity supplied for things like capital improvements, student services and the amounts of sections available for classes (core and electives).  If CSN finds the economic equilibrium, Quality and Diversity remain intact while Access will redefine itself sooner rather than later.

Another institution, UNLV, is dealing with an even bigger problem.  Their budget is bigger therefore when they cut 6.9% it is more than what CSN expects.  UNLV President Neil Smatresk formed the Presidential Review Committee to help trim different colleges and degree programs at UNLV.  When the committee was finished, many students were irked by what the committee proposed to cut.  In a time like this it is hard to just slash away at programs that have been thriving for years and years.  But on May 10^th, President Smatresk endorsed their recommendations.

UNLV President Neal Smatresk

Now UNLV will have a lower budget for FY 2010 and 2011, but what can people do?  There are comments on many of the newspaper articles online that say education needs to get cut and these departments are funded too much at this time.  There are some student leaders like CSN Capitol Club Vice President Aimee Riley who say that Access needs to be the cornerstone of an educational institution and with cuts to budgets the students are hurt the most.  Then there are people who say that cuts need to happen so other industries can live and that colleges will rebound years from now.  I tend to agree with Ms. Riley.

Make Access and Quality synonymous with each other.  By making Quality so well at CSN, we make Access available to the students that are there.  The graduation rate goes up and more spots are open.  By making an investment now, we do not risk the institution losing more teachers, students and staff down the road.  If the first definition of Access in anyone’s mind is availability to the community, that is something that can be restarted in years where education is funded through new leadership in the Governor’s Mansion.  Our current majority leadership in the State Legislature has the idea, as does a certain candidate for Governor.

President Dr. Smatresk does not want these cuts and neither do we.

Governor Jim Gibbons, former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon and former Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval have either signed a “no new tax” pledge or signaled that they would veto any tax proposals from the people/Legislature.  This is wrong.  There are new industries that will move to or be created in Nevada.  For a state executive to stop money from staying in our state is major red light for his/her constituents.  Any voter who votes for a candidate who will not create taxes for the mining, casino, energy, corporate or any industry is making a mistake.

Many people ask when the state of education is going to get better.  Well, how is education funded?  The educational system is funded through state funds and if the state is going to balance the budget and fund education first, there has to be the funds to do so.  We cannot stare down the barrel of a budget deficit every other year!  If we bring in different markets and tax current industries, we can have the money for a well funded educational system that would be in the top 10 in the nation.

“Let public schools then be established in every county of the United States, at least as many as are necessary for the present population, and let those schools be supported by a general tax.” –Robert Coram, American Author(1761-1796)

We’ll hear from past and present members of the club, including former ASCSN and Capitol Club President, David Waterhouse, who currently works in Harry Reid’s campaign.

We also expect several guests from around the political scene in Clark County, including candidates for office in 2010.

The event is this Saturday, May 15th, 6:30PM, at Memphis Championship BBQ, 2250 East Warm Springs Road.

Minimum contributions are as follows and include a platter and beverages:

$20 for students
$25 for everyone else

If you have any questions, please call Justin McAffee at 374-6009 or email him at justin@csncapitolclub.com

You can RSVP Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119602174730466&ref=mf or by email.

In 2008, he was elected to the Washoe County School Board for District E.  To my knowledge (Correct me if I’m wrong) he is the first member of the Capitol Club to obtain an elected office, outside of student government.

He ran for Reno City Council in 2006, losing in a close race.  He has been active in several community organizations since his days in the Capitol Club.

You can read more about him on his Facebook page here, or on the Washoe County School District site here.

He isn’t up for re-election this year, but says he is eager to get back out there and talk to people.  Scott told me, “I love campaigning, it’s such an exciting process and I’m getting better at it.”

The Capitol Club is proud to have one of its own out there serving the public.  Congratulations Scott!  You have set a good example for us.  Keep up the good work!

Biography of Scott Kelley

(In his own words)

I had a great childhood, growing up 4 miles from the beach in Oxnard, California. My family moved to Northern Nevada in 1991 and we traded the Pacific Ocean for beautiful mountains, deserts and Lake Tahoe.

I wanted adventure and joined the US Army at age 17, and spent the next six years as a paratrooper, doing peacekeeping missions in Haiti and the Balkans, natural disaster clean-up missions in the Carolinas (mostly Hurricanes). The highlight of my enlistment was being stationed in northern Italy (June 1998 – July 2000). I spent 2 weeks patrolling war-torn Kosovo in 1999 and will always remember my experiences there.

After leaving active duty I returned home and served 5 more years in the military, this time Nevada Army National Guard (2000-July 2005) I attended UNR (2000-04) and was active on-campus and throughout the community. During this time I continued my adventurous ways and backpacked through 15 countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Serving in the military had left a deep love for public service, and I started getting involved in the community. My first political assignment occurred in 2005 when I became the Whispering Springs Homeowners Association president. As president it was my job to work with City of Reno, and I was troubled by the lack of response we received from local government about the issues facing our HOA.

I also didn’t like how the City of Reno was raising taxes to fund out-of-control development, while seemingly ignoring existing neighborhoods, so I ran for Reno City Council Ward 4. The campaign was creative and I earned 21,000 votes and finished at 43% on a very small budget.

I wanted to run for public office in 2008, and after talking to supporters and hearing their concerns about what was happening in the community, I ran for the Washoe County School Board and won the campaign with 14,000 votes at 65%. I represent 16 schools in northwest / northeast Reno.

Starting January 2009, I joined a 7-trustee board that dedicates itself to local education. We hired a new superintendent in August 2010 and have been busy tackling budget issues, declining enrollment, and declining resources. The district’s goal is to become world class, and we need the community’s support to make this happen. There are definitely fun parts about being a trustee, such as handing out diplomas to thousands of graduating high school seniors every year.

In 2009 I started a terrific job as Sales Manager for Allegra Print and Imaging. That Fall, my family went on a cruise to Mexico, and during the cruise Brooke and I got engaged. We had our first son, Grant Scott Kelley, on May 5, 2010.

Life is moving very quickly…

Scott Kelley

Many citizens of Las Vegas and in the Hispanic community are distraught about the law. Some wonder if the law is practical, ethical, racists or even constitutional. It is expected to be challenged at the federal level.

One provision of the law allows citizens to sue a city or county for not stopping enough illegal immigrants from being here. This places finding illegal immigrants at the top of police priority, taking their focus away from other vital areas of public safety and crime control.

Illegal immigration continues to be a major problem, both for Americans and the foreign nationals here illegally. The problem needs to be addressed. This is the justification that Republicans in Arizona used to pass this bill that essentially gives Arizona police power to enforce federal law.

Ironically, it is Republicans in Washington D.C. who are now blocking the very changes needed to solve the problem. Democrats have unveiled a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

House Republican leader, John A. Boehner, has plainly stated that “There is not a chance that immigration is going to move through the Congress.” So if I’m hearing this right, the Feds not doing enough on immigration is why Arizona Republicans had to pass this infamous law. But now your telling us flat out that you won’t pass a reform?

And the circle of political craziness keeps us spinning and spinning…

Wells Fargo on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Charleston to tell

big banks: “I am not your ATM.” Participants will send the message

to Wall Street that working people will no longer clean up its mess, and

call for financial reform. Working America members will take pictures in

front of ATMs delivering a personal message to Wall Street that will be

posted at www.notyouratm.com.

Working America will deliver the photos along with 10,000 handwritten

letters and messages recorded for big banks throughout the week and

during shareholder meetings so Wall Street will hear, see and read

firsthand how angry Main Street is.

Working America is calling for strong financial reform that will hold

big banks accountable. The “I am not your ATM” events are part of a

national, week-long mobilization against the big banks and Wall Street

firms led by the AFL-CIO.

What: Event outside Wells Fargo in downtown Las Vegas
Who: Working America members
When: April 27, 2010 at 2:00 PM

Where: Wells Fargo

1121 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas, NV

(On the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Charleston)

–

Working America, community affiliate of the AFL-CIO, represents working
families to mobilize around economic issues like health care and good
jobs. Working America represents 3 million people and is the
fastest-growing organization for working people in the country. For more
information, go to www.workingamerica.org.

Channel 3 did a story featuring Aimee Riley. Here is the video.

Riley made this statement about the Regents meeting:

The outcomes of today are devastating for CSN, its students and faculty and the system as a whole. To accommodate our budget cuts from the state, we are forced to choose between quality of education and access for students. According to CSN President Dr. Richards, 5,000 math and science students have already been turned away because we cannot provide adequate resources.

I was heartbroken and in tears at points throughout the meeting realizing that higher ed is being decimated piece by piece, year after year. This is not a new problem, we have faced significant cuts for a number of years. What is most disconcerting is that the trend is getting worse rather than better. The cuts are going deeper, to a point that the damage may be irreversible. We are no longer cutting “the fat,” we are now into vital organs.

I feel that Nevada needs to take a drastically different approach if we want to succeed as a community. I recognize that the regents and the administration have their hands tied. Perhaps the legislators have their hands tied too. Who has the final say? We the People. I appeal to my fellow citizens to get involved, let our elected officials know you support education and most importantly to vote!

CSN President Michael Richards (who has an awesome blog we link to on the right) indicates that students will be affected:

Students have been called upon once again to take the brunt of these cuts. It will be harder for them to get the classes they need. There will be longer lines for student support services, such as tutoring and advising.

CSN has much more information on their budget cuts website here.

KXNT had these details:

The state Board of Regents has approved about $7.5 million in budget cuts for the College of Southern Nevada. The plan will cut about $2 million from the remaining budget this year, and about $5.5 million from the 2011 budget. It includes eliminating about 60 full-time faculty, and limiting some class selections and vocational programs. Today’s meeting focused on the budgets of community and state colleges, but state University Chancellor Dan Klaich says a final decision on cuts at UNLV and UNR likely won’t come until June. In addition, regents are considering a plan to raise tuition by 7.5% over the next two years. Nevada’s higher education system is facing mandated cuts due to falling tax revenues which resulted in a nearly $1 billion budget deficit.