Pubdate: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 Source: Reno Gazette-Journal (NV) Copyright: 2002 Reno Gazette-Journal Contact: http://www.rgj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/363 Author: Ray Hagar CANDIDATE PROFILE: KEETON HAS LEARNED A LOT SINCE LAST RUN Editor's note: This is the second of a three-part series on the Republican candidates in Assembly District 40. Candidate Ron Knecht will be profiled Friday. Tom Keeton, a Republican candidate in Assembly District 40, said Wednesday he learned a lot about politics since being defeated in the Carson City mayoral primary election in 2000. "I have spent the last two years literally immersing myself in the city, its problems and projects," he said "My loss in the mayor's race taught me that I didn't know the city well enough. I didn't get out and meet enough people. I have now. "I can say that I have talked to people in 2,500 or 3,000 homes while walking the district." The 62-year-old retired advertising executive and former Air Force pilot said his current campaign has energized him. "I've lost 25 pounds in the process," Keeton said. "But I can afford to lose another 10. That will come campaigning for the (general) election in November." Keeton said many voters he has spoken with are concerned about the Carson City freeway bypass, the quality of education, taxes and the voters initiative that would allow for the adult possession of up to three ounces of marijuana. Keeton has been on the Carson City Parks and Recreation Committee, the Economic Vitality Committee and the Carson-Tahoe Health Systems community membership board. He said he almost has attended every meeting of the Carson City supervisors and has become the chaplain of the Carson City chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens. If he is elected and the marijuana possession initiative passes, he would try to stop the concept from becoming state law. "I would not stop the initiative process because it is very important to our political life," Keeton said. "But as far as the initiative itself, I would do whatever I could within the balance of the law to see that it would not happen. "What if we had an initiative that said you could shoot anyone you don't like? Even if it passed, we would find some way to keep it off the books." Keeton said he would speed up the freeway bypass construction process by forming a coalition of northern Nevada lawmakers to push funding to complete the project quickly. A speedy completion for the freeway bypass would benefit most of northern Nevada because Carson City has become a business hub for the surrounding counties, Keeton said. "What I hope to do, right off the bat, is get my counterparts from Washoe, Churchill and Lyon who want this just as much as we do to join with me," Keeton said. "That would be five to six assemblymen, and we'll probably find three senators who would join us. Then I would hope to find some members from the south to join in because it would be an advantage to them to get our freeway done. "If we can get our freeway done and done quickly, then more of the transportation money would flow their (southern Nevada lawmakers) way, instead of it trickling off for our freeway project." Keeton also wants to keep Nevada a "tax friendly" state for business. "We must keep Nevada the best place to live and work," he said. However, he said he would consider adding more taxes to cigarettes and a limited hike in gaming taxes. Keeton calls gaming "the goose that lays the golden egg" in Nevada and would tread lightly in adding to its tax burden. He would first consider taxing national gaming corporations and leaving Nevada-based gaming establishments alone. "I don't want to tax the local guy who is making his money here, creating jobs and keeping his money here," Keeton said. "National gaming companies should be taxed more than local companies because they are taking the money out of state. Do both escape new taxes? I'm not sure. But the local companies, like the Eldorado (in Reno) and the Pinion Plaza (in Carson City) should get a free pass on the first round of the argument." Keeton said contractor liability insurance will be a big issue in the upcoming legislative session. He wants to allow builders to fix problems or finance repairs within 60 days before lawsuits are filed. "It was just a Band-Aid," Keeton said about the medical malpractice lawsuit passed during the special session and signed by the governor. "The one thing we didn't get done in that session is that we did not get any kind of commitment out of the insurance companies. We got nothing from them that said they would stay for five years or roll back rates. They need to give something back." (SIDEBAR) For more information: Tom Keeton Age: 62 Occupation: Retired advertising executive and former fighter and jet bomber pilot in the Air Force. Community service: Member of the Carson City Parks and Recreation Committee, the Economic Vitality Committee and the Carson-Tahoe Health Systems community membership board; chaplain of the Carson City chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens. Family: Married to Kaye Keeton for 48 years. They have two children and two grandchildren. Kaye Keeton is president-elect of the Carson City Republican Women's Club. Education: Master's degree in mass communications from the University of Iowa, 1959; bachelor's in journalism from Drake University in 1954. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth