Name: Steve Yeager
Office: State Assembly, District 9
On-Air Interview Summary:
Yeager is running for Assembly District 9 in the far southwest side of the Las Vegas Valley. He is a deputy public defender in the Clark County Public Defenders’ office.
Yeager told KNPR’s State of Nevada that his main focus will be moving the state forward but in a way that provides opportunities for everyone. He said he has seen some of the structural issues that hold people back from success while working in the justice system.
He said people in his district have expressed concern about education, solar power policy and infrastructure. That area of the valley is growing fast and many road and schools were not built to handle population explosion.
Yeager believes addressing the overcrowding in schools in the valley is important. He said he knows there is funding in place for school construction, but there is an immediate need in his district that has to be addressed quickly.
Education is also a concern for Yeager as the state looks to diversify. He said job training, whether it’s at the high school or college level, is important to make sure the new jobs created are filled by Nevadans.
Party Affiliation: Democratic
Website: www.yeager4nevada.com
Biography provided by candidate:
For the past seven years, Steve has been a Chief Deputy Public Defender at the Clark County Public Defender's Office. Prior to that, he worked as an attorney practicing in civil litigation, primarily focusing on insurance and class action defense. Steve advocated on behalf of Clark County and the Public Defender's Office at both the 2013 and 2015 legislative sessions. Steve received his undergraduate degree in History and Spanish from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and his law degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He is married to Bita Yeager, a Las Vegas Justice of the Peace.
Question: Last legislative session, the major initiative was a tax increase to support education in the state. What should the major accomplishment of 2017 legislature be?
The 2015 legislative session represented a departure from a historically more productive and collaborative process. Fortunately, rational minds were able to defeat the more extreme efforts. The major accomplishment of the 2017 Legislature should be the return of integrity and thoughtful consideration to the legislative process.
Question: If recreational marijuana is legalized by voters in this state, do you want revenue from it to fund health initiatives, research and/or youth awareness campaigns?
If Nevada voters legalize recreational marijuana in November, I would like to see revenue from it dedicated to all three of these areas.
Question: Many elected officials in Clark County say they’d like to see the property tax cap changed – that it's time because tax revenues aren’t meeting budgets. Is that an idea you want to see the legislature tackle?
The unforeseen Great Recession revealed unintended consequences stemming from the property tax cap. The Legislature should commit to addressing the structure that was enacted prior to the Great Recession so that there is flexibility to meet today's challenges.
Question: Do you support the construction of a taxpayer-funded NFL stadium?
I don't support a 100% taxpayer-funded NFL stadium. I am willing to have the discussion about whether such a stadium should be partially taxpayer funded, but my support would depend upon the specifics of the proposal.
(Editor's note: The candidate's biography and answers were not edited for content or length)