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KUNR 2020 Voter Guide: Assembly District 26

KUNR 2020 voter guide for Assembly District 26. Illustration of a ballot being placed into a box. A pencil and a roll of stickers are in front of the box.
Crystal Willis
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KUNR

The contest for Assembly District 26 is between incumbent Republican Lisa Krasner and Democratic challenger Vance Alm. Krasner, an adjunct professor at Truckee Meadows Community College, has held the seat since 2016. Alm, a local doctor, unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

The district contains most of Southern Washoe County. It stretches across Southeast Reno to Incline Village and includes the western side of Washoe Valley. The seat has been under Republican control since the 1980s.

For information on other races, visit our KUNR 2020 Voter Guide home page.

As a note: All responses in KUNR's 2020 Voter Guide have been submitted by the candidates. KUNR has not changed the answers other than to provide fact-checking as needed, indicated in the text with italics and parentheses.

Vance Alm. Decorative header with a patriotic color scheme.
Credit KUNR
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KUNR
Headshot of Vance Alm. He is looking toward the camera and smiling
Credit Courtesy of Vance Alm

Name: Vance Alm
Occupation: Family Practice Physician
Political Affiliation: Democrat

Why are you running for office?

I believe that there are several issues that have not been addressed well by the legislature including, education, healthcare and the environment. I believe that I can do a better job representing my district than the incumbent.

How would you describe yourself to voters?

I am a moderate candidate that will represent all of the people of this district not just those of one party. A physician and veteran who wants to see cooperative solutions rather than partisan devisees.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing Nevada?

Investment in education, funding our State's future and access to quality healthcare for all.

Is there one particular issue (education, health care, criminal justice reform, etc.) that you consider most important as a candidate? Why?

Education. That we are near or at the bottom of the list on most polls is unconscionable. We desire to present our state as a magnet for technology but aren't educating to meet the demands of that industry. Our state wants to appeal to young families but doesn’t put forth a quality education that their children will need. We need to bring our spending up to at least the national average per pupil. We need to put our money where are mouth is.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on Nevada in countless ways. In your opinion, how would you rate the state’s response to the pandemic thus far?

Initially good, but we faltered. We caved to economic pressure, we gave up on doing the right thing for the long haul. We haven't had the testing availability to control the spread and then have ignored the results when we did get them. We haven't seen the "bad" that will be coming with this epidemic and are in for a severe awakening when it arrives. Allowing a medical issue to become politicized has pushed people from doing the right thing.

During the recent 31st Special Session, lawmakers cut hundreds of millions of dollars from the state budget to address a roughly $1.2 billion budget hole created by the pandemic’s economic fallout. That included large cuts to K-12 and higher education, Medicaid and other state services. Do you support the steps taken by the legislature to balance the budget? If not, why?

No! We need to seek out funding to keep these programs fully funded. We need to seek out more federal funding and ask for help from private industry. We have cut from areas that needed more funding. We need to look for any and all means of increasing revenue for the state. We must think long term not short term. A request for Nevadans to buy bonds for our state treasury would be a better solution than cutting necessary programs.

In the 32nd Special Session, Democratic leaders approved a set of resolutions aimed at amending the state constitution to increase taxes on the state’s mining industry. Do you support or oppose those efforts to increase taxes on mining?

I would support these efforts. The money that is collected from our mineral wealth has continued to flow out of our state and often time out of our nation without providing benefit to the people of our state. There needs to be a fairer payback to the citizens of this state for the wealth that flows into the hands of rich corporations. We need to look at how best to extract minerals in regards to money to the state revenue, environmental damages and infrastructure required to be maintained by the state for the support of mining.

For years, Nevada’s K-12 education system has consistently ranked among the lowest in the country. What steps should lawmakers take to improve the state’s public schools for all children?

To reiterate, education is my foremost issue. Without education, you sentence a child to a substandard future. We need to fund at an appropriate level, exam alternate public methods of education and support education. I have grandchildren in the public school systems and hope for their future, but I also have expressed to them that their future is tied to their success in school and try to provide family support to their education and serve as an example to them that learning is vitally important. We need to be involved with our children's future, not just push them through a mill to get a piece of paper. In my life education has been tantamount to success. I received my education through the public school systems all the way through and to include my MD degree.

What is one thing you believe voters should know about you?

I am not running as the best Democratic candidate. I'm running as the best candidate to represent them at the legislature. I want to work for them for real solutions, not fight partisan battles. I've spent my entire life serving my country and community in other ways, now I would like the opportunity to bring my experience to represent them in the legislature.

KUNR is providing links to candidate websites as part of this voter guide, but a website for Vance Alm could not be located.

Lisa Krasner. Decorative header with a patriotic color scheme.
Credit KUNR
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KUNR
Headshot of Lisa Krasner. She is looking toward the camera and smiling.
Credit Courtesy of Lisa Krasner

Name: Lisa Krasner
Occupation: Nevada State Assemblywoman
Political Affiliation: Republican 

How would you describe yourself to voters?

I am the Incumbent Assemblywoman for Nevada State Assembly District 26. I have a Bachelor's Degree from UCLA and a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of LaVerne College of Law. I am an advocate for the people, a Constitutionalist, and a fighter. It is an honor to represent the people in their government. I respectfully ask for your vote so that I can continue to fight for you.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges facing Nevada?

Economic recovery and job creation

Is there one particular issue (education, health care, criminal justice reform, etc.) that you consider most important as a candidate? Why?

There are many issues that are important. My concern is the health, safety and welfare of the people of our state. I want to help businesses to re-open and get people back to work.

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on Nevada in countless ways. In your opinion, how would you rate the state’s response to the pandemic thus far?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for our state, the businesses that are here and the people who have lost their jobs. I am focused on helping with economic recovery.

During the recent 31st Special Session, lawmakers cut hundreds of millions of dollars from the state budget to address a roughly $1.2 billion budget hole created by the pandemic’s economic fallout. That included large cuts to K-12 and higher education, Medicaid and other state services. Do you support the steps taken by the legislature to balance the budget? If not, why?

I do not support those cuts. While I am in favor of a balanced budget, I opposed the massive million-dollar cuts to Education K-12, Nevada System of Higher Education, (especially our community colleges), and an addition 6% cut to the Medicaid Reimbursement rates for clinics, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, during a pandemic. There were other areas where temporary cuts could have been made.

In the 32nd Special Session, Democratic leaders approved a set of resolutions aimed at amending the state constitution to increase taxes on the state’s mining industry. Do you support or oppose those efforts to increase taxes on mining?

I do not support additional taxes on the Mining industry. Mining creates thousands of good-paying jobs for the people of Nevada.

For years, Nevada’s K-12 education system has consistently ranked among the lowest in the country. What steps should lawmakers take to improve the state’s public schools for all children?

School choice, charter schools, etc

What is one thing you believe voters should know about you?

I care about you and I care about our community. I am working hard for you every day, and I respectfully ask for your vote so that I can continue to fight for you.

Learn more about Lisa Krasner at lisakrasnerfornevada.com.

For information on other races, visit our KUNR 2020 Voter Guide home page.

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