Lee
files for Senate District 1:
May
5, 2004 Press Release
Go
to John Lee's "Endorsements
Page" and see the list of those endorsing him as the best
choice for State Senator.
The
closing days of filing for the office of State Senate District 1 drew
a few surprises—and some comments from the media. John Lee drew
generally favorable remarks—and some of the other candidates
didn’t fare as well. Here’s a few of the more interesting
comments and links to the actual articles.
July 3, 2004
Carpetbaggers don’t have necessary grasp of district issues
By
Jane Ann Morrison
Las Vegas Review-Journal
North
Las Vegas Sen. Ray Shaffer spends much of his time on his boat in
San Diego or in his Northern Nevada home. If he loses his race this
year in District 1, it’s unlikely his residency will be the
reason.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/Jul-03-Sat-2004/news/24236284.html
May 18, 2004
Election 2004: oh, it’s on now
By
Steve Sebelius
Las Vegas Review-Journal
At
least one legislative race managed to produce a surprise—in
state Senate District 1, a race henceforth to be known as Shaffer
vs. Schaeffer vs. Shaffer. It seems Sharon Shaffer, wife of state
Sen. Ray Shaffer, filed for her husband’s seat and will run
in a Democratic primary that also features Mike Schaefer, who continually
runs against people with the same last name, hoping confusion will
land him a public office. At least we know Sharon Shaffer didn’t
switch parties like her husband who abandoned the Democrats and joined
the Republicans before the 2003 Legislature. (It was a bad move, given
that the district features 4,860 more Democrats than Republicans.)
But
Sharon Shaffer’s real purpose may be to defeat Democrat John
Lee . . .
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/May-18-Tue-2004/opinion/23905356.html
May 21, 2004
Intrigue, high stakes define races
By
Jon Ralston
Las Vegas Sun
A
wife files against her husband on the last day, but Sharon Shaffer
doesn’t really want to beat her spouse, Ray, the state senator.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/text/2004/may/21/516896973.html
May
21, 2004
Races to keep an eye on
By
Jon Ralston
Las Vegas Sun, Weekend Edition
A
family affair: The utter disregard for the electoral process and the
voters probably won’t cost state Sen. Ray and Sharon Shaffer
because people just don’t care. Mike Schaefer was always just
a stunt candidate and has now been one-upped by Sharon Shaffer’s
better stunt, but ex-Assemblyman John Lee, ever-ambitious and working
hard, is the real thing on the Democratic side.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/text/2004/may/21/516896975.html
May 15, 2004
Candidate filings finish with a flourish
By
Erin Neff
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Sharon
Shaffer, a Democrat, filed to run against her husband, Republican
state Sen. Ray Shaffer, for Senate District 1.
The
district has 4,860 more Democrats than Republicans, and some thought
the incumbent, a former Democrat, might be harmed by his party switch
which occurred after the 2002 election and resulted in him winning
a committee chairmanship.
Senate
Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, is supporting Democrat John
Lee, a former Assemblyman I the race. “It just further destroys
any credibility people used to have for Ray,” Titus said of
the Shaffer’s dual filing. “Give me the whole Shaffer
family, John Lee will still win.”
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/May-15-Sat-2004/news/23892539.html
May 20, 2004
Some cry foul as Shaffer, wife play both sides in Senate race
By
Jane Ann Morrison
Las Vegas Review-Journal
It
was Sen. Ray Shaffer’s idea, says his wife, Sharon.
Ray
Shaffer was a lifelong Democrat until switching to the Republicans
before the 2003 Legislature. His reward was a committee chairmanship,
a helpful tool for fundraising. Now he’s looking at the downside
of leaving the Democrats: He could lose his election because Senate
District 1 is heavily Democratic, with 5,000 more Democrats than Republicans.
He
had suggested to his wife that she enter the Democratic primary, hoping
that a woman might have an advantage against four Democratic men.
He’ll donate $10,000 to help her. If she wins the primary, it’s
unlikely she’ll mount much of a campaign against him in the
general.
Is
this a strategy to help her husband win? “Yeah, probably,”
Sharon said Tuesday. “I feel deep down he’ll win out in
the end. It wouldn’t bother me if I didn’t make it.”
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2004/May-20-Thu-2004/news/23915666.html
