April Mastroluca

The Las Vegas Sun ran a story in Monday's paper profiling Sean Fellows, a Republican running for state assembly against April Mastroluca in District 29.

According to the Sun, Fellows doesn't mention his party affiliation in any of his campaign materials, and he brings it up only when asked during door-to-door campaigning. 

The paper's story says Fellows is hoping to sidestep the issue of partisanship in an attempt to target Democrats and other voters who are down on Republicans because of the unpopular policies of the Bush administration.

From left, SD-5 candidate Shirley Breeden, Greg Esposito, and AD-21 candidate Ellen Spiegel in Henderson last week.: Although most of the Democratic establishment is staying positive about Breeden's candidacy, the NSEA's endorsment of her opponent last week is a troubling sign. Politicker Photo.LAS VEGAS-Months ago, intent on retaking the state senate, Nevada Democrats cast their sights on Senate District 5 as one of two key targets. But hopes of capturing the seat may be fading as their candidate, a self-described "political unknown," has failed to win the endorsement of one of the pillars of the state Democratic establishment, the Nevada State Education Association.

And the endorsement of incumbent state Sen. Joe Heck (R-Henderson) by the state's teachers' union is just the latest in a series of missed opportunities for state Democrats that have led some Democratic operatives to believe their candidate, Shirley Breeden, is unlikely to defeat Heck.

LAS VEGAS-On the heels of Assemblywoman Susan Gerhardt's surprising announcement last week that she would not be seeking reelection, Nevada Democrats announced today that April Mastroluca, a 40-year-old education and child welfare advocate would be seeking her seat in the 29th District.

"I have already started working hard, meeting people and getting campaign donations, and with the backing of [Assembly Speaker] Barbara Buckley and the rest of party, I feel really confident that this is a district that Democrats can win," said Mastroluca.

CARSON CITY-Nevada Democrats announced today that Assemblywoman Susan Gerhardt (D-Henderson) will not seek a third term in the state legislature and that April Mastroluca, a "longtime education advocate," will run for her seat.

"It's been my privilege to represent Assembly District 29 and to work on so many critical issues," Gerhardt said. "Nevadans are fortunate to have many strong advocates for education, public safety and working families serving in the Legislature, and while I will not run for re-election, I will continue to help them fight for Nevada families however I can."

Gerhardt, a retired police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, was first elected in 2004 and, according to the release, "sponsored bills to give more rights to battered women weighing whether to prosecute their abusers and measures to improve health and safety standards in local medical clinics.  She was a leader in encouraging her constituents to file homestead exemptions."