Kaplan announces for Las Vegas Assembly

Democrat Kirk Kaplan has announced he will challenge Valerie Weber for Assembly District 5 representing part of southwest Las Vegas.

Weber, a first-term Republican, has said she will run for a second term.

Kaplan is an attorney and certified public accountant. He moved to Las Vegas in 1975, when he was in seventh grade.

"I am a strong advocate for enhanced efforts to help Nevada's small businesses succeed," he said. "We too often forget how many people in our state are employed by small businesses and how difficult it is for small business owners to provide benefits, particularly health-care coverage, for their employees."

He owns and operates Kaplan and Associates, a law firm, and is part owner of Chavez and Koch, CPAs.

He said ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent on classroom instruction and programs that "truly enhance student progress" is a top priority in education.

"I find it totally inexcusable that, in the most recent national comparisons, our state ranks so low in graduation rates from high school and in the number of students who go on to college," he said.

Kaplan described himself as an avid nature enthusiast. He has done extensive volunteer work in Red Rock Canyon, helping raise funds for site markers and cleaning up graffiti in the area.

Assembly District 5 represents southwest Las Vegas and part of western Clark County. Weber replaced Republican Barbara Cegavske two years ago after Cegavske ran for the Senate.

Democratic Party officials said registration is very close with just 183 more Republicans than Democrats registered.