Nevada Governor to Face Anti-Tax Crusader

CARSON CITY, Nev. — Gov. Bob Miller easily defeated five opponents in Nevada’s Democratic primary, including Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones, who challenged the state’s “good old boy” political system.

In the Republican primary Tuesday, anti-tax crusader Jim Gibbons beat Secretary of State Cheryl Lau, who in 1990 became the first Asian American to win statewide elective office.

Miller, who took 63% of the vote to Jones’ 28%, stressed his record as acting governor for two years and as governor for four years. Jones had questioned that record and called for a change.

Also among the Democrats was a perennial candidate who legally changed his name to Rhinestone Cowboy, and political novice Sam Bull IV, who pledged to push for executions by hanging.

On the Republican side, Lau criticized Gibbons for his vote as a state assemblyman for a big pension hike for lawmakers, and Gibbons stressed his tax control plans. Gibbons won 50% to 33%.

In another key race, Republican senatorial hopeful Hal Furman defeated Charles Woods after the two swapped carpetbagging charges. Furman, a political consultant, will face Sen. Dick Bryan (D-Nev.), who was unopposed in the primary.

Woods, a millionaire businessman, has previously run for the Senate and other offices in Nevada and other states, always as a Democrat.