Assembly District 29 candidates Annette Dawson Owens and Joe Dalia – Meet the Contenders
The race for Assembly District 29 in Henderson is heating up as former educator Annette Dawson Owens and former Reid aide Joe Dalia vie for the open seat left by five-term Democratic Assemblywoman Lesley Cohen. With Democrats seeking to maintain their majority in the Assembly, this swingy district could prove crucial in determining the party’s legislative agenda next session.
Education: A Top Priority for Both Candidates
Both Dawson Owens and Dalia have made education a focal point of their campaigns. Dawson Owens, a longtime educator in Nevada, is passionate about increasing investments in early childhood education programs. She believes that kindergarten readiness programs can have lifelong benefits for students.
On the other hand, Dalia is focused on increasing funding for Nevada’s public schools, which currently rank among the lowest in the nation in terms of per-pupil funding. He also wants to address teacher recruitment and retention issues to ensure a stable and qualified workforce in the education system.
School Choice: A Point of Contention
While Dawson Owens supports providing state funding for school choice options, Dalia opposes such policies. Dawson Owens believes that parents should have the right to choose the best education for their children, whether it be public, private, or charter schools. On the other hand, Dalia is concerned that school choice policies may divert attention and resources away from improving Nevada’s struggling public schools.
Health Care: A Critical Issue for Nevada
Both candidates agree that Nevada’s health care system is in need of reform. Dawson Owens believes that the lack of investment in health care is a major issue in the state. She is particularly concerned about the shortage of mental health providers and wants to see more resources allocated to address this issue.
Dalia also sees the need for more investment in health care training programs to attract and retain medical professionals in Nevada. He is interested in exploring ways to streamline insurance practices that can be burdensome for patients and providers.
In terms of reproductive rights, Dawson Owens supports access to abortion services in certain circumstances, while Dalia is a strong advocate for protecting abortion access and recently praised a Nevada Supreme Court ruling that ordered the state Medicaid program to cover abortions.
Elections and Vetoes: Key Political Issues
Both candidates have differing views on voter ID requirements. Dalia sees such requirements as part of a larger effort to disenfranchise marginalized communities, while Dawson Owens believes in prioritizing secure elections to build trust in the system.
When it comes to vetoes, Dawson Owens is a supporter of Governor Lombardo, vowing to protect his power to veto if elected. On the other hand, Dalia has expressed concerns about the high number of vetoes issued by Lombardo and believes that such power should be used judiciously.
In conclusion, the race for Assembly District 29 is shaping up to be a competitive and closely watched contest. With education, health care, and reproductive rights at the forefront of the candidates’ platforms, voters will have a clear choice to make in the upcoming election.
