Mohave Daily News: State

Democrats sweep to wins on Clark County Commission

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The election of two new members and re-election of two more is turning the powerful Clark County Commission all-Democratic.

Nevada university Regent Steve Sisolak narrowly won a seat Tuesday, drawing 47.5 percent of the vote to Republican Brian Scroggins' 46.3 percent in unofficial results. The final totals showed Sisolak with 63,373 votes and Scroggins with 61,788 - a scant 1,585-vote margin. Third-party candidate Scott David Narter had an impact, drawing 8,205 votes.

Sisolak would succeed term-limited incumbent Bruce Woodbury, who served for 28 years.

Democratic Las Vegas City Councilman Larry Brown far outpaced Republican state Assemblywoman Valerie Weber, 57 percent to 38 percent.

Incumbent Tom Collin drew 67 percent to Republican rival Gary Hosea's 27 percent, Lawrence Weekly drew 84 percent to Independent American Party candidate Tom McGowan's 16 percent.

The seven-member commission is one of the most powerful political bodies in Nevada, representing the state's most populous county.

Nevada voters endorse plan to raise hotel room taxes

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Voters in Washoe and Clark counties have approved advisory questions to increase motel and hotel room taxes to help fund public education.

Now, the proposal worked out between a teachers union and some Las Vegas Strip resorts will go to the 2009 Legislature for approval.

If lawmakers fail to act, the issue will be placed on the 2010 ballot.

The proposal was a compromise forged between the Nevada State Education Association, Wynn Resorts, Harrah's Entertainment and Station Casinos.

Proceeds from the added room taxes would be used at first to help make up for budget cuts in the worsening state revenue shortfall, and later to supplement regular K-12 funding.

Woman who owes $500,000 elected to education board

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A retired day care operator who owes the state Education Department more than $500,000 has won a Nevada Board of Education seat.

Willia Chaney defeated social worker Doris Wallace Fletcher by 51 percent to 49 percent in Tuesdays race for District 3, succeeding state Board Member Marcia Washington on the 10-member statewide board.

Chaney's former Smart Start Child Care Center is appealing a court order to repay $528,373 in summer lunch program money that state investigators say was misspent on salaries and cars.

Yavapai County voters reject sales tax to build new jails

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) - Voters in Yavapai County are rejecting a tax to pay for new jails.

About 56 percent of voters said ‘‘no'' Tuesday to 44 percent voting yes to the one-quarter cent jail tax.

Yavapai County supervisors put the sales tax on the ballot because the county's jail district has been losing money the past few years.

Supervisors will now be forced to take other measures. One possibility is transferring funds from sources intended for regional roads to the jail district.

Supervisors have been reluctant to make moves to delay or stop road projects.