Campaigning challenges local legislators
by Mark LaPointe, Outpost Staff
|
In this package:
Opinions
split on biannual
sessions |
Citizen legislators, like political professionals, are not divinely appointed. Every other year, Nevada's entire Assembly is up for re-election. This is an additional challenge for representatives who have professional positions and family. "When you run every two years, you're always basically running." Rep. Brian Sandoval says. "Come May or so, you begin walking your district. You better get started early if you're going to walk the whole district."
Rep. Pat Hickey sees frequent campaigning as a great benefit for both the legislator and the citizens who elect him or her. "One of the most enjoyable parts of campaigning is meeting people in their homes, going door-to-door" he says. "That's very important. It helps the candidate to know what's important. If you listen you really learn more."
Rep. Evans, with a district that covers more area than most, sees time management as crucial to running a re-election campaign. "The time squeeze becomes a horrific burden," she says. "On top of all that you overlay a campaign for the assembly race. For a period of three to four months you're hitting it pretty hard, trying to juggle everything."
Again, Evans brings up the difficulties for citizens who may wish to be legislators. "The constant campaigning can be a deterrent for some people" she says. Nonetheless, Evans has been hitting the streets for more than a decade because she enjoys working in the legislature and representing the people in her district.
Although the halls of government may be empty at times, the work of the state continues. Citizen legislators are on duty year-round, every year, drafting bills, monitoring the state's economy, meeting with constituents and trying to make the system work for themselves and the people who elect them.
The work is what keeps Assembly members excited about representing the people in their districts. Few would trade their jobs as citizen legislators for that of full-time politicians. Neither would they consider setting their official duties aside for other pursuits. Rep. Sandoval speaks affectionately of the piles of mail he receives from his constituents. Rep. Evans discusses her vast community involvement proudly. Rep. Hickey's dedication to the ideals of the citizen legislator is clear: "I don't think anybody should look at politics as a life-long career, but for now, it's where I want to be and what I want to do. It is definitely worth the time and energy when you know you can make a difference."
copyright 11/15/97 Nevada Outpost http://www.jour.unr.edu/outpost