Senate District 5 Candidates Carrie Buck and Jennifer Atlas – Nevada Independent Interview

Senate District 5 Candidates Carrie Buck and Jennifer Atlas – Nevada Independent Interview

In a bid to secure their first two-thirds Senate supermajority in this century, Democrats are eyeing Southern Nevada’s Senate District 5 as a key battleground. The district, encompassing parts of Henderson and Paradise, is currently represented by Sen. Carrie Buck (R-Henderson) and boasts a fairly even split of registered Democratic (29 percent) and Republican voters (29 percent), with the largest percentage of voters registered as nonpartisans (34 percent).

Buck, a former administrative educator, relocated to Las Vegas in the 1990s and presently serves as the president of the Pinecrest Foundation, a registered nonprofit that supports charter school educational initiatives, including scholarships for students. Seeking re-election to a district she narrowly won in 2020, Buck had its boundaries redrawn after the 2021 redistricting process.

Her Democratic opponent, Jennifer Atlas, arrived in Southern Nevada nearly 18 years ago as a competitive ballroom dancer before transitioning into the hospitality industry and eventually becoming a lobbyist. Although she no longer works as a lobbyist, she currently serves as a paralegal for the Coburn and Martin law firm.

In separate extensive interviews with The Nevada Independent, Buck and Atlas delved into their aspirations for office and responded to questions spanning 14 diverse policy areas. These discussions shed light on the contrasting perspectives and approaches of the two candidates, offering voters valuable insights into their platforms and priorities.

Education

Buck emphasized the need for reform in Nevada’s education system, particularly in schools with persistently low ratings. She advocated for policies that would enable the state to overhaul the governance of underperforming schools to address underlying issues. While she did not directly address the question of aligning Nevada’s per-pupil funding with national averages, Buck highlighted the significant investment in education made by the state in the previous legislative session, emphasizing the importance of enhanced accountability in utilizing these resources effectively.

Atlas, on the other hand, underscored the importance of ensuring that every classroom has a qualified teacher who is adequately compensated for their expertise, alongside maintaining appropriate class sizes to enhance student outcomes. She expressed a commitment to improving educational standards for all students through targeted funding and other measures aimed at enhancing academic achievement.

The provision of free school meals emerged as a contentious issue, with Buck cautioning against universal free lunches, citing the cost to the state and suggesting that families who can afford it should pay for their children’s meals. In contrast, Atlas raised concerns about the stigma associated with students receiving free or reduced-price lunches and advocated for universal free school meals to ensure all children are adequately nourished, regardless of their economic circumstances.

School Choice

Buck voiced support for state funding for school choice options, arguing that the cost to the state might be lower than funding a child’s education in a public or charter school. While highlighting successful universal school choice programs in other states, she acknowledged the importance of balancing budgetary considerations with the need to ensure quality education for all students.

Atlas, however, emphasized the critical role of public schools in providing high-quality education to students and advocated for prioritizing funding for public education over private school options. She criticized the allocation of funds to new students through the Opportunity Scholarship program before ensuring existing participants were adequately supported, citing concerns about transparency and fiscal management.

Health Care

Both candidates agreed on the need to improve access to healthcare and address the shortage of healthcare providers in the state. Buck proposed raising Medicaid reimbursement rates for services to ensure adequate coverage for low-income patients, while Atlas focused on affordability by advocating for automatic enrollment of eligible babies in Medicaid and increased transparency in prescription drug pricing.

While Buck voted against a bill to adopt drug prices negotiated by Medicare, citing concerns about potential impacts on the market, Atlas highlighted the importance of expanding access to affordable medications, particularly for life-saving treatments like insulin and asthma medications. She underscored the need for comprehensive policies to address healthcare affordability and ensure equitable access for all Nevadans.

Elections

In the realm of elections, Buck expressed support for voter ID initiatives to prevent noncitizens from voting, while Atlas raised concerns about potential disenfranchisement of older voters and voters of color. The debate over voter ID policies underscored differing perspectives on the balance between election integrity and voter access, with Buck emphasizing the need for robust verification measures and Atlas advocating for policies that promote broader participation in the electoral process.

The issue of “ballot harvesting” emerged as a point of contention, with Buck defending her inquiries into alleged irregularities in the 2021 election and advocating for stricter reporting requirements for ballot collection. In contrast, Atlas criticized the concept of ballot harvesting as a tactic to undermine voter confidence and disenfranchise certain groups, emphasizing the importance of protecting the integrity of the electoral process.

Housing

Addressing the challenges of affordable housing, Buck highlighted the need for diverse housing options to accommodate families across different income levels. She emphasized the importance of government intervention to ensure a range of housing choices and affordability, citing concerns about potential impacts on housing inventory and investment in the absence of market-based policies.

Atlas commended the allocation of funds for homelessness services in Clark County and called for expanded support to address housing insecurity. While she did not explicitly endorse or oppose changes to eviction laws, she acknowledged the complexities of balancing landlord rights with tenant protections in the housing market.

Firearm Policies

Buck, a concealed carry permit holder, underscored the importance of protecting Second Amendment rights and highlighted the need for enhanced safety measures in schools. She advocated for legalizing concealed carry for school officials as a potential solution to improving security and preventing violence on school campuses.

Atlas, a mother concerned about gun violence in schools, emphasized the need for common-sense reforms to address the prevalence of firearms in educational settings. While she did not explicitly endorse a state ban on semi-automatic or assault weapons, Atlas emphasized the importance of balancing gun rights with public safety considerations to protect children and prevent mass shootings.

Criminal Justice Reform

In the realm of criminal justice, Buck called for stricter penalties for fentanyl possession to deter abuse and trafficking of the deadly drug. She emphasized the devastating impact of fentanyl-related deaths on families and communities and supported measures to increase criminal penalties as a deterrent to trafficking.

Atlas commended efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and increase penalties for offenders, highlighting the need for collaborative solutions at the state and federal levels to address the national crisis. While she did not specify her stance on specific changes to fentanyl possession laws, Atlas emphasized the importance of evidence-based policies and coordinated efforts to combat drug abuse.

Tax Credits

Discussing tax credit programs, Buck stressed the importance of evaluating the overall benefits to Nevadans before granting incentives or credits. She emphasized the need for fiscal responsibility and prudent decision-making in assessing the economic impact of tax credit programs, such as the expansion of film tax credits.

Atlas highlighted the potential benefits of expanding film tax credits to diversify the state’s economy and create jobs, emphasizing the importance of generating revenue for essential services like education and healthcare. While she expressed openness to exploring tax credit legislation, Atlas underscored the need for thorough analysis and consideration of the long-term impacts on the state’s fiscal health and economic vitality.

Reproductive Rights

On the issue of reproductive rights, Buck expressed support for legislation protecting in vitro fertilization (IVF) while deferring decisions on broader abortion protections to voters. Atlas endorsed Question 6, a ballot measure seeking to enshrine existing abortion protections in the Nevada Constitution, and supported initiatives to safeguard reproductive freedom and access to essential healthcare services.

While Buck advocated for limited government funding for abortion services, Atlas emphasized the importance of ensuring comprehensive reproductive healthcare coverage, including access to abortion services for individuals facing critical health risks or circumstances. The candidates’ differing views reflected broader debates over women’s rights to reproductive healthcare and the role of government in supporting essential services for vulnerable populations.

Conclusion

As the race for Senate District 5 intensifies, the contrasting visions of Carrie Buck and Jennifer Atlas underscore the diversity of perspectives within the Nevada political landscape. From education and healthcare to elections and housing, the candidates offer distinct approaches to addressing key policy issues facing the state. Voters will have the opportunity to weigh these perspectives and decide the future direction of their district and the state as a whole.