John Oceguera

LAS VEGAS-A deal between the Nevada State Education Association and Station Casino, Harrah's and Wynn may have been reached in an attempt to kill a ballot initiative that would have raised the  gaming tax, but the state's political leaders haven't thrown their full support behind it yet. The Democratic leadership in the Assembly doesn't "anticipate any problems," but Republicans say they are waiting to see the details of the agreement before deciding whether to support any compromise to raise the room tax.

The deal, reached Monday right before a deadline to turn in petition signatures, reportedly kept a Teachers Union-supported 3 percent gaming tax increase initiative off the November ballot in return for gaming support of an up to 3 percent room tax increase instead, capped at 13 percent.

Although the compromise was reached with the help of the governor's office and Republican legislators, the governor's office and Republican leadership are holding off on supporting it until final details are released.

Assemblywoman Francis Allen (R-Las Vegas).LAS VEGAS-Despite a weekend arrest on charges of battery with a deadly weapon, Assemblywoman Francis Allen was back to work today, attending a meeting of the legislature's Information Technology Subcommittee in Las Vegas.

"She looked okay," said state Sen. Bob Coffin (D-Las Vegas).  "She didn't look like she had been through anything."

"She got there early and jumped right into it all.  She did ask questions and participated."

LAS VEGAS-- Filing began this morning for non-judicial candidates in the Silver State, officially kicking off the election season. Check back regularly throughout the day with PolitickerNV.com for a list of filed candidates.

And be sure to check back at the end of the day for a summary.

Newly filed candidates in Clark and Washoe Counties:

LAS VEGAS—The race to succeed Garn Mabey in Clark County’s 2nd Assembly District is heating up, with two experienced politicians already building burgeoning campaigns.  Despite rumors of other candidacies, the institutional support Republican John Hambrick and Democrat Carlos Blumberg have received make them the likeliest candidates to face-off against each other in the fall.

Former Clark County Republican chair John Hambrick, who announced his intention to run last October, has garnered the support of much of Nevada’s top Republican establishment including U.S. Sen. John Ensign, former Govs. Kenny Guinn and Robert List and more than half a dozen members of the state legislature. 

A retired Secret Service Agent, Hambrick, 62, has begun assembling a campaign team led by manager Nathan Emens.  Emens had previously worked as press secretary for the county party and has worked campaigns for state Sen. Bob Beers among others.