Scholar: Few states have offered as many offspring of prominent politicians on ballot as Nev.

Nevada election slate filled by state’s dynasties

LAS VEGAS — The Nevada ballot has more budding political dynasties than ever before — and it may have more than any state in U.S. history, according to a scholar at the Brookings Institution think tank.

Nevada will fill election posts this fall that could leave offspring of prominent politicians as governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and U.S. senator.

“I’ve been keeping track of this from the Colonial era, and I’m not quite sure I’ve ever heard of anything quite that complete,” the Brookings Institution’s Stephen Hess told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Hess, author of “America’s Political Dynasties,” called it an impressive showing of Nevada royalty.

But Boston University political historian Thomas Whalen said he’s troubled by the trend.

“It is just disturbing to me, any notion of a political caste system,” said Whalen, who has studied the Kennedy family in Massachusetts and other political dynasties. “It just seems to go against the very precepts by which this country was founded.”

The list of powerful family members seeking to move up or keep a foothold in Nevada politics starts with Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid, son of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the highest-ranking politician ever to come from Nevada.

Rory Reid is the lone Democratic candidate against Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons, who also faces a challenger from his own Republican Party, Brian Sandoval.

Nevada ballots also include Jessica Sferrazza, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor and a daughter of former Reno mayor Pete Sferrazza.

Bidding for re-election are Democratic Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, daughter of former Clark County Commissioner Manny Cortez; Democratic Secretary of State Ross Miller, son of former Gov. Bob Miller; and Harry Reid’s Republican challenger, Danny Tarkanian, son of Democratic Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian.

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit, public policy organization based in Washington, D.C.

Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, www.lvrj.com