Richard McArthur is the most extreme and out-of-touch Republican member of the Nevada Assembly, serving three terms yet accomplishing nothing for the people of Assembly District 4. It is clear he has to go. But some in the leadership of the Nevada Democratic Party are pushing a candidate that has barely lived in Nevada and that refuses to either take public stands on the issues or to oppose McArthur, jeopardizing a chance to pick up a seat in the Assembly. To make matters worse, Tony T. Smith's opponent was recently caught fudging the numbers about the length of her Nevada residency.
Tony addressing local activists during the campaign for Assembly District 4.
Candidate Tony T. Smith was born and raised in Las Vegas. He attended our public schools, colleges, and universities. He has worked retail on Fremont Street, living paycheck-to-paycheck, as well as for the Nevada DMV as a technician. He has been involved in progressive politics in Nevada since his college years when he helped register voters with the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada leading up to the 2006 election. He has also volunteered with local nonprofits to help plant community gardens and, he has provided pro bono legal services to help abused children and survivors of domestic violence as an attorney.
Tony volunteering to plant a community garden in downtown Vegas.
However, some in the leadership of the Nevada Democratic Party have placed their support behind Tony's opponent in the Democratic primary. Tony's opponent has only resided in Las Vegas for 3 years, moving here for her retirement. While Tony has taken firm public stands on the issues, including calling for a living wage and debt-free higher education, his opponent has refused to say where she stands and speaks only in broad generalities. Further, Tony's campaign is voluntarily capping contributions to remain independent of wealthy donors while his opponent has no such qualms about sacrificing her independent judgment by taking large donations, even from corporate backers.
It is crucial to remember that Nevada’s Assembly District 4 is nearly evenly split between registered Democrats and registered Republicans, with 20% registered nonpartisans. The key to unseating McArthur is to increase enthusiasm and turnout among registered nonpartisans. Nonpartisans have been responding very positively to Tony's bold stand on the issues and clear steps to remain independent of wealthy donors. Further, as there is no place on earth like Las Vegas, his deep ties to our one-of-a-kind community have allowed Tony to connect with voters.
The Democratic Party is jeopardizing the ability to win this seat and ensure the people of Assembly District 4 once again have a voice in Carson City if they continue to back a recent resident of Las Vegas that refuses to take firm stands on the issues. Further, the inability of Tony's opponent to explain why she fudged the numbers about the length of her Nevada residency demonstrates the sort of unnecessary distractions she will cause that will make her more vulnerable in the general election. If Tony's opponent cannot take clear public stands on the issues or explain her inconsistent statements regarding the length of her Nevada residency during the primary election campaign, it is difficult to imagine how the situation will improve during the general election campaign.
Compare Tony's opponent's Secretary of State filing to her answers to the candidate questionnaire for the RJ.
Tony had no problem indicating the same length of Nevada residency in both his official Secretary of State form, as well as in his responses to the LVRJ questionnaire.
Tony's opponent in the Democratic Primary claims to be a “New Voice for Change.” Check out our video and you decide who the real voice for change is in the race for Nevada’s Assembly District 4. Then make your voice heard in the Democratic Party primary election on 6/12/18! (Early voting runs from 5/26/18 - 6/08/18)