2012 PRIMARY ELECTION: LAUGHLIN JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
Laughlin Justice of the Peace Tim Atkins thinks voters should re-elect him to a second term because he is the only candidate in the race with experience on the bench.
"Neither one of the other two have been judges," he said.
Bobby Latsko and Jack Weaver are challenging Atkins, who was elected in 2006 after the longtime incumbent, Billy Moma, stepped down.
"I'm really enjoying the job, too," Atkins said. "I've studied hard to try to be the best judge possible."
Justices of the peace in Clark County townships with fewer than 100,000 people, such as Laughlin, need not be licensed attorneys.
During his first campaign, Atkins said he would bring common sense to the position and described himself as "a common man going after a common-man job."
Atkins said he worked in the telephone industry for more than 30 years before he retired to serve as justice of the peace.
He has lived in Laughlin for 27 years. He moved there in 1985 to install cable television for Valley Communications, and after three years, he returned to work in the telephone industry.
Atkins was working as a business technician for Embarq, now known as CenturyLink, when he retired.
Weaver is a sergeant with the Metropolitan Police Department, where he has worked since 1980. He previously worked for the Juneau Police Department in Alaska.
Both Atkins and Weaver are Army veterans.
In 2006, Weaver tried unsuccessfully to unseat Searchlight Justice of the Peace Wendell Turner. He also ran for Clark County sheriff in 1982.
Weaver, who has lived and worked in Laughlin for the past nine years, said he has nothing negative to say about his opponents in the Justice Court race. He also lived and worked in Laughlin from 1990 to 1994.
"I know that I can make a positive impact on Laughlin as justice of the peace," Weaver said.
He said his law enforcement experience makes him "uniquely qualified" for the job, because he has seen firsthand the effects of crime on communities and victims.
"I make no apologies for the fact that I have a tough-on-crime philosophy," Weaver said.
Latsko could not be reached for comment.
Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE DUTIES, PAY
Justices of the peace are responsible for setting bail and handling preliminary hearings and initial arraignments for felony cases before the cases proceed to District Court. Justices also oversee misdemeanor and small-claims cases to their completion. They serve six-year terms. Justices of the peace in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas receive $153,449 a year. Justices in Laughlin are paid $99,742 a year. Justices in Mesquite and Moapa Valley receive $73,303 a year. Justices in Searchlight receive an annual salary of $61,380. The judgeships are nonpartisan offices.
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
