Valerie Weber

National Democrats are prepared to put some heavy money behind the campaigns of several Democratic legislative candidates in Nevada as an investment in 2012 congressional redistricting – when Nevada is expected to gain a fourth seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. According to sources, the staff of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has told DNC and DCCC officials that non-federal dollars ought to be earmarked for three races that will help Democrats gradually turn the state from light red to blue: State Senate candidates Allison Copening, who is challenging Bob Beers, and Shirley Breeden, who is opposing Joe Heck; and for Democrat Dondero Loop, who is seeking Republican Valerie Weber’s open District 5 Assembly seat.

LAS VEGAS-Democrat Marilyn Dondero Loop, a 56-year-old retired teacher, announced yesterday that she will be seeking the 5th Assembly District seat currently held by Republican Valerie Weber.  Weber, who announced last year that she will be leaving the seat to run for the open Clark County Commission District C seat being vacated by Chip Maxfield, has endorsed Republican Donna Toussaint to succeed her.

"As a life-long Nevadan, I am not satisfied with the status quo in our state, where we rank near or at the bottom of almost every list that compares our quality of life with other states," said Dondero Loop.  "When it comes to educating our children, making affordable, quality health care available for all and making sure people feel safe in their own neighborhoods, we can do better."

Assemblywoman Valerie Weber (R-Clark)Assemblywoman Valerie Weber (R-Clark 5) is in no mood to give up her campaign to replace Chip Maxfield as Clark County Commissioner for District C, despite her opponent’s six-to-one fundraising advantage.

“There are special interest lobbyists that are trying to buy another seat on the commission,” said Weber Friday.  “To me, this race is about listening to the voters and being a public servant.”

So far, Weber and Las Vegas Councilman Larry Brown are the only two declared candidates for the seat, and Brown’s fundraising to date points to a repeat of the 1996 gubernatorial election immortalized by Jon Ralston in his book “The Anointed One.”

Las Vegas- Donna Toussaint, a 61-year-old longtime Las Vegas community activist, has thrown her hat in the ring to replace Republican Valerie E. Weber in Clark County’s 5th Assembly District. 

Toussaint, who served for nine years as president of the West Sahara Community Association, has already drawn the support of some of Nevada’s highest ranking Republican women and hopes to bring the skills she has garnered from years of community involvement to the state legislature.

“I understand how municipalities work,” said Toussaint Tuesday.  “I’ve gone through the leadership programs in the city of Las Vegas.  I’ve worked with the city and the county for many, many years, so I know I can bring that knowledge to Carson City.”