May 16, 2008 - 10:47am

News

Breeden filing against Heck in SD5

LAS VEGAS-Clark County School District administrator Shirley Breeden will file today to challenge Republican state Sen. Joe Heck in Senate District 5. Breeden had previously declared that she would seek the 21st Assembly District seat now held by Assemblyman Bob Beers.

According to a press release issued by the state Democratic Party, Breeden will seek the seat "because she believes more needs to be done to address the serious problems facing families and retirees in Nevada. She said the home foreclosure crisis, the public health crisis with the Hepatitis C outbreak and challenges facing our schools must be addressed now."

Although the district has been trending Democratic, Breeden will face a tough race to unseat Heck, who returned from a tour of Iraq with the Army Reserve Monday. Heck filed for reelection Wednesday.

Breeden may face political troubles of her own as well.

In 1997, she filed complaints against the school district with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Nevada Equal Rights Commission and sued in federal court over an incident in which she alleged that her supervisor retaliated against her for reporting sexual harassment. Breeden's case made it to the Supreme Court, where in a 9-0 decision, the court overturned a Ninth Circuit ruling in favor of Breeden.

Expect to hear the term "frivolous lawsuits" thrown around freely in this campaign.

JOSEPH K. COOPER can be reached via email at joseph.cooper@politickernv.com.

Related topics: Joe Heck, Shirley Breeden, Senate District 5

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Comments

Breeden

posted by Lydia

Is this lady kidding? She sues the very school district that she works for- and wants to champion for the school district as a legislator? A drug test is in dire need for her. I'm sorry, but as a democrat, I wouldn't vote for her. Joe Heck is one of the best legislators Nevada has seen in a long time- he works well with both sides and is known as a uniter on all issues important to Nevada. I can safely speak for many friends when I say we all really wish he would run for Governor. Not often do you get a man like Heck with a background and knowledge such as his, not to mention his good looks. (Oh, I'm sorry Senator Heck, I hope you don't misconstrue that as sexual harassment). There is no competition here- Sometimes, you really have to wonder where the reality gene is for people like Breeden. If it were me, I think I'd make up any excuse and get out of Dodge so as not to embarrass myself.

05/22/08 3:54 am

OK, it's good to know I'm

posted by Shari

OK, it's good to know I'm not the only Democrat out there who is smart enough to NOT vote down party lines. Thank you Lydia!
As a teacher for the CCSD, Sen. Heck has been phenomenal to the teachers. He visits our students, answers their emails, comes in for reading programs, always gets back to you within 24 hours and yes, he's easy to look at. I cannot express the respect I have for him especially as a soldier- I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for his wife to hold down the house and kids, get his campaign up and running, and whatever elase they have on their plates. This is the man that should be Governor!
Shame on Ms. Breeden for thinking she could try to get settlement money out of the school district for a frivolous lawsuit of sexual harrassment, and shame on her for thinking she could ever do a better job than Sen. Heck could. To all you Democrats out there, Sen. Heck is a good man and a great legislator. There is nothing more unintelligent than to vote for someone just because they have the same party affiliation as you. Ask yourself who best represents you- a man with an education degree, a medical degree, a military degree and who knows what else, or a lawsuit-happy school administrator with no experience?
It truly seems like a no-brainer to me.

05/22/08 4:08 am

Is she serious?

posted by Dan

Talk about putting yourself out there for a whipping! Yes, here's another Democrat who won't be voting for you, no you can't save face now. I care too much for my kids' education, their healthcare and their safety. I have a vested interested in keeping Sen. Heck as my legislator- he works for me. When you got a good thing...
What, or should I say who (uhem Ms. Titus??) blew sunshine up you-know-where to make you think you come even close to offering what Sen. Heck has? Where is your pride woman??? How humiliating for you.

05/22/08 4:19 am

I was forwarded this

posted by Dorothy

I was forwarded this article- I had read it in the paper and still think the same thing...
SNAP OUT OF IT SHIRLEY!
You are having a great dream, you are running against one of Nevada's best legislators and...
WAKE UP... you got pummled!
Let me ask you this- are you serious or were you just a name on the ballot and you're ok with being used? Don't you have any self respect? Gosh, run against Bob Beers (the Ass-emblyman)and at least level the playing field! If this weren't true, I would think it was a bad joke. But it is true and I just think you are delusional. We like him- even us Dems!

05/22/08 4:29 am

As one of your co-workers, I

posted by Your friend

As one of your co-workers, I hate that you are doing this despite what I've said. With everything in your closet, you don't think for a minute it won't come out? Even the lawsuit alone is enough to turn people off- how can you say you want to work with the school district when you took them all the way to the Supreme Court, cost the district thousands of dollars over something you knew was not true?
It's ironic to say the least. I really don't know who told you this was a good idea, but if you don't mind being made a fool of- go on. But I can't vote for you.

05/22/08 4:36 am

because of Joe Heck children

posted by Anony

because of Joe Heck children need to be insured in order to get the HPV shot...how ironic when he's a doctor

he shouldn't have voted in regards to it at all due to a "conflict of interest"...being he is a doctor, that makes it clear to me he has lobbyists up his ass

06/20/08 4:32 pm

clothes

posted by custom closets

In history there are many societies where it was considered socially acceptable in many cultures to be naked. In the modern world most cultures find it socially unacceptable to walk around in public without clothes.

07/29/08 2:57 am

Women who find a way to use

posted by Water Damage Restoration

Women who find a way to use sexual harrassment as a means to an end should be ashamed. So many women who really have to endure sexual harrassment have had a difficult time proving it and it is a shame if this really did not happen to her and it was a frivolous lawsuit.
Water Damage

11/14/08 7:03 am

Frivolous Lawsuits Give Less Credibility To Real Ones

posted by Water Damage

It is shameful when women use sexual harrassment as a means to an end. It makes it so much more difficult for the real cases to be taken seriously.http://www.the-restoration-express.com

11/14/08 7:08 am