With election night just about three months away, some local races are beginning to take shape.
Like the battle for state Senate district 13 between Democrat Debbie Smith and Republican Kathy Martin.
The two women come from very different backgrounds. Debbie Smith has been in the Nevada Assembly for 12 years. Kathy Martin doesn't have has much political experience, but she has seen a small business owner for 25 years.
"I may not have experience in politics, but I have a lot of experience in talking to people, going into their homes and listening to what their needs are," said Martin. "It's important to me to listen to them because it's not about me, it's about us and about them."
Martin said we need to encourage entrepreneurship and help small business by limiting regulations and giving employers incentives to hire.
As far as education, she believes parents should have a choice of where their children go to school.
Education is right in Smith's wheelhouse. She has championed many education bills in the legislature and is still fighting to provide performance pay for teachers and raise the salary of new teachers.
She does support raising taxes if it means funding education.
She said she's the woman for the job because she knows the issues and is ready to tackle them.
"I have experience. I have accomplishments. I have championed education reform. I've worked on budget and transparency," said Smith. "I had legislation that reigned in use of consultants in this state. I sponsored the School Works bill and fought very hard for that."
You can watch both Martin and Smith sit down with Chris Ciarlo on Face the State this Saturday at 4:30am and 3pm. It also airs Sunday at 6am and 3:30pm.
Written by Chris Ciarlo
