Primary battle brewing for Francis Allen

LAS VEGAS-Once again this year, it appears that Assemblywoman Francis Allen (R-Las Vegas) will have to fend off a challenge from the right.  Richard McArthur, a retired FBI agent who ran against Allen in her first race in 2004, is challenging her again this year, arguing that he, and not Allen, is a true conservative.

"She's not conservative enough," said McArthur Thursday.  "She votes with the Democrats most of the time and she's had those other issues." 

The other issues McArthur referred to included Allen accepting free tickets to a Rolling Stones concert in 2005 from national mortgage lending company Ameriquest without either reporting the tickets on campaign finance forms or compensating Ameriquest, and a more recent incident in which Allen ordered approximately $8,000 worth of flowers from a Las Vegas florist only to later stop payment on the check.

"People are not real happy, I guess you could say, with her judgment," said McArthur.

According to McArthur, he has been walking the district for "about a month and a half," distributing campaign literature that calls for, among other things, "lower taxes," "no amnesty for illegal aliens," and "no millennium scholarship for illegals."  His literature is produced by September Studios in Henderson, a firm that is also employed by state Sen. Bob Beers.

McArthur said he doesn't expect Nevada Republicans to support Allen in her reelection effort because "she's voted with the Democrats about 94 percent of the time."

"A lot of people are backing me, they're happy that I'm running against her," said McArthur.  "You'll find that Sen. Beers and all the other people are not behind her."

Beers, who contributed $500 to McArthur's first campaign in 2004, could not be reached Thursday for comment.

Told that the GOP Assembly Caucus traditionally backs incumbents, McArthur replied "They're going to get another Republican anyway; a conservative Republican who's got a background."

"[Allen]'s never had a job, she's basically a trust fund baby."

Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, head of the GOP Assembly Caucus, said Thursday that the caucus would be backing Allen in her reelection.

"We are supporting all of our incumbents and I have not met [McArthur] or heard about that," said Gansert.

As of Thursday, no Democrats have declared for the seat.