Maurice Washington files for third term

Maurice Washington filed late Friday for a third four-year term in the Nevada State Senate.

It will be the first time Washington, 46, has had to appeal to voters outside Washoe County. In the wake of reapportionment, his district now includes part of Storey County and the portion of Lyon where Fernley is located as well as Sparks and the unincorporated valley communities north of Reno.

It will also be the first time he has had opposition in the primary.

Wanda Wright of Palomino Valley filed for his seat on the first day saying she doesn't feel he has been responsive to his constituents. Specifically she charged that he didn't attend a meeting of her petition drive to stop Sierra Pacific Power rate increases.

"I had a previous engagement that night with my wife," said Washington.

Even though he has already raised some $70,000, he said he won't take her candidacy lightly.

"You've got to remember: I'm the guy they didn't take seriously," he said referring to his initial victory against incumbent Len Nevin eight years ago.

Washington said the big issue this time will be revenues but that he isn't automatically supporting tax increases.

"What I support is something that's fair and equitable across the board," he said. "Then make sure things aren't duplicated between the state and the counties before we do increases."

That is a reference similar to what Gov. Kenny Guinn and other Republican leaders have made to the concept of shifting some cost burdens to local governments instead of the state. They argue that Nevada local governments are flush with cash while the state is suffering a shortfall.