Kelly Chapman, candidate for Nevada’s 41st Assembly District, discusses public safety, affordability, education, and small business support with Alan Stock, outlining her priorities on law enforcement, taxes, workforce training, and community engagement.
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Alan Stock 0:00
And a good morning. Great to have you with us on this Wednesday morning now this week, Nevada news and views is on Wednesday. We’re changing it because we have a something else coming up tomorrow. I’ll tell you about later on, but Nevada news and views today, and of course, you can find out more about Nevada news and views. Great resource for local, state and national news and commentary by going to Nevada, news and views.com and joining us today is Kelly Chapman. She’s running for the 41st assembly district. Kelly, thanks so much for being with us. I appreciate it. Thank you so much for having me absolutely now you’re running for the the assembly district, and I think you, you know you probably have the best chance of becoming our assembly person from that from that district. And I know one of the most important issues to you is safety. I mean everything else, everything else should be secondary, right? Because you’re not safe in your home and in your community. What does anything else matter? You can have all the money for education or anything like that. Wouldn’t matter if you’re not safe. So what? What’s your focus when it comes to trying to make sure that the community is a safe community?
Kelly Chapman 1:14
Well, number one, tougher penalties for repeat offenders. You know, we if we don’t stop these people from repeat offending. You know, it’s it’s a huge issue that we’re having, and these judges that aren’t keeping them locked up. It’s just a major issue for us, and I support strengthening those penalties for chronic offenders so the same people are not cycling in and out of jail committing the same crimes over and over. Excellent.
Alan Stock 1:40
I mean, no, I know that they this last legislative session, the governor got some of that through. We went from like, what was it? 650 was the was the amount, the figure for felony, up to $1,200 California went down to 650 we went down to 750 so right now we are trying to be more liberal and so and more sympathetic. You know, when it comes to these, these crimes committed by by people, California is starting to learn the lesson a bit, and we’ve got to get on board. And you’re saying we should even reduce that further right,
Kelly Chapman 2:19
and that that was a Democrat led legislature in 2019 that passed that AB 36 bill. And you know, it was 650 it went to 1200 and we all saw what happened after 2019 retail theft skyrocketed. It’s no coincidence that happened. And you know, Governor Lombardo, hopefully he gets reelected. He tried to lower it to 750 this legislative cycle, but it wasn’t in the last, in the last bill of the crime bill. Unfortunately, it didn’t. It got negotiated out.
Alan Stock 2:52
Well, we need more folks in there like you to be able to help the governor get his priorities through the legislature. So the election is this year in November, and then the legislature. Legislature meets next year. So we need to get you and a lot of other folks in the assembly and State Senate as well. One of the things I know you’ve talked about is to enhance cooperation and trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. What exactly? What would you do? Because I think right now, Henderson police and our metro, I think, and even North Las Vegas, I think they reach out to the community on a pretty good basis.
Kelly Chapman 3:32
They do, and I have taken a ride along. And let me just say this, I think every person should do a ride along with lvmpd or Henderson, whoever you know, represents them, but you can’t really speak about them until you’ve done a ride along and fully understand the things that they do on a daily basis. You could never understand it that, being said, Nevada needs to recruit and retain good officers. That means competitive pay, training, resources, so departments are fully staffed. We’re not defunding police. They should be fully funded.
Alan Stock 4:07
100% the case, 100% so fully fund the police. Pay them what they’re worth. We want these people staying here. They want the good officers all stay here in the Valley. I think you’re absolutely correct. So I mean, I want to move on. There’s so much to say about about law enforcement. We can spend the whole show on that. Let’s talk about the issue of affordability. We know that, while the President has said that things are improving on a national basis, locally, people have said, well, we’re still feeling some pain here, and a lot of ways we could, we could talk about fuel, by the way, which I should touch on. But, but aside from fuel, what other areas of affordability are you focusing on?
Kelly Chapman 4:58
Let me just say the no tax on. And tips issue was a massive issue to pass for Nevada. Yes, 30% of Nevada’s workforce is in the resort gaming industry. So that was massive. And I honestly, I don’t think it went further, far enough, excuse me, far enough, because the $25,000 limit wasn’t nearly what it should have been, but it’s a good starting point. And families can’t afford new taxes or fee hikes, I’ll oppose all policies that increase utility bills, fuel costs, everyday expenses that would make anything tougher. They’re already struggling enough. So yeah,
Alan Stock 5:39
so and I know you’ve also talked about the need for a balanced budget, right? I think this a, this is a no brainer, a common sense issue. I mean, you know you had Bill Clinton talking about this back in the 90s. I mean, you know, it’s a no brainer. And yet, we don’t, we don’t do that. People don’t mind spending other people’s money. You’re saying we can’t do that. Put the money back in people’s pockets, instead of having the legislature, legislators spending them for their for their little projects, right?
Kelly Chapman 6:12
More money in our pockets is better for all of us. You know, we’re all struggling. I’m no better than anybody else I live and work in this in a city, and it’s we’re all struggling.
Alan Stock 6:27
You’ve also talked about the idea, I know to and I’m curious about this, about prioritizing infrastructure development to attract new businesses to the district. Specifically, what would you do with that?
Kelly Chapman 6:41
Well, first of all, we have to cut the red tape for the small businesses, the regulations, the licensing delays, all of that holds people back, especially the small businesses. You know, their state filing fees, their state business license fees. You know, if you have a business that say three or less employees, they shouldn’t be overloaded with fees and confusion when they’re trying to start up a business.
Alan Stock 7:07
Absolutely the case when it comes to fuel. Also, the governor has taken the lead in trying to find alternatives to fuel. We know that California is going to be raising their fees and the cost of gasoline tremendously, and that Nevadans, we get most of our gasoline from California. We’re going to be feeling that increase in the next few months, in the spring and in the summer, big, I mean, up to another buck and a quarter or more a gallon, because of California governor wants to look elsewhere for an alternative to California. Fuel your thoughts on that.
Kelly Chapman 7:46
I completely agree with him. We have to stop doing whatever California does. We’re not California, and everything they do really is affecting us, and thank God we have Governor Lombardo, who is willing. You know, it’s not the days of the system acts. We have to move on from California.
Alan Stock 8:04
So no, we should no longer be California. Cated, here in Nevada, I think you’re absolutely right on that. Stay with me. I want to talk about the issue of education, because that’s of a concern to a lot of people, and you have some, I think, some great ideas on what needs to be done in the area of education to help improve educational standards with some issues in the state. And I think you’ve got some great ideas. I want to talk about that right after we check in with traffic and your fox five, First Alert weather update here on Vegas at eight. Annie, good morning. Great to be with us on this Wednesday morning. That’s Nevada. News and Hughes Wednesday this week, okay? And the reason for that is we have a change for tomorrow. We tomorrow, we have an exclusive interview with retiring Congressman Mark Amadei right here on Vegas at eight. He’ll be joining us to talk about his plans and and much more. Joining us right now is Kelly Chapman. She’s running for the 41st assembly district. And Kelly again, thank you so much for taking your time to join us today. And I know that you know one of the issues that you are focusing on our schools, also one of the big issues you’re talking about is pushing for school choice, and I think that’s important tell me about how that would work.
Kelly Chapman 9:25
I believe that families should have access to charter, magnet, innovative public schools. When schools perform well, we should replicate them faster, instead of trapping families in failing systems. School is just it’s not a one size fits all, and every student just learns differently.
Alan Stock 9:43
Well, that’s absolutely true. So the idea is to what have the funding follow the students? Is that right?
Kelly Chapman 9:51
Yes, that would be correct, and let the parents choose what’s best for their students.
Alan Stock 9:56
That’s a great idea, but I’ve got at least, to me a. Think about something else that’s, I think, important, and I know you, this is one of the things you’ve talked about, and that is about encouraging parental involvement. I can’t think of anything more important than parental involvement. When I was growing up, it was, it was the teachers and the parents, and they were working with the kid. I mean, they’re working together, and we’ve had a lot of, you know, dissension between parents and teachers over the last several years because of a lot of woke dei stuff and everything. But parents have got to be encouraged, to be to get more involved. What would you do to encourage more parental involvement?
Kelly Chapman 10:39
I’ll say this. For instance, when my son went through CCSD, I worked very hard, but every day off, I would go into the teacher’s classroom, and I would donate my time whatever she needed me to do, I would do, whether it’s helping grade papers or doing boards for her, whatever it may be. It just gave her that relationship with me, and she felt comfortable reaching out to me if there was ever an issue,
Alan Stock 11:05
I think that’s a great idea. What how would you encourage, though, parents to get involved? You did? I understand that, and I believe we did with our kids growing up as well. I know our kids are doing the same with our grandkids today. This is how our family roles, okay, so just like yours. But I mean, what would you do to encourage more parental involvement?
Kelly Chapman 11:28
The teachers have to open a line of communication with these parents. They have to feel comfortable reaching out and and the parents have to feel the same way as also. We have to get rid of the DEI in these classrooms, and we have to get back to education. That’s really what matters.
Alan Stock 11:46
So would you be reaching out to to parents in your district, in the 41st assembly district, to reach out to teachers, then to have reach out to teachers, to reach out to parents? I mean, it’s a mutual situation, right?
Kelly Chapman 11:58
And unfortunately, that’s, I think, where we’re failing as legislators. We really should have an open line of communication with our our voters, and I don’t feel like we have that right now, and it’s important to be open and let people whatever their disagreements are, they should always reach out, Democrat, Republican, it doesn’t matter you’re their representative, and you should always be open to their constituents.
Alan Stock 12:24
You know, you’ve talked about something else. I want to mention also, because I think this is important, and people who run for office candidates always say this, but they usually don’t follow through. I’m going to be honest with you, okay, but you talked about the idea of hosting a regular town, regular town hall meetings, and I would challenge you, if you’re elected, to follow through with that pledge again, because a Democrat Republican doesn’t matter. Most legislators don’t follow through with that. And I think that’s an important concept when you’re elected to a public office like this, to be able to hold regular town hall meetings and get feedback from people like that. I think that’s one of the most important things you can do. Will you actually follow through with these town regular town hall meetings? Absolutely.
Kelly Chapman 13:17
I wholeheartedly accept that challenge. I would love to, I would love nothing more than to do that.
Alan Stock 13:22
I mean, this is a chance that you have the opportunity to meet, let people come out and, you know, voice their gripes or appreciation or ideas, to share ideas with you, and if you to interact with the community. And again, most people don’t do it as much real quickly. On one more thing, on the education thing. I know that you want to focus on expanding trade and vocational training. Are you talking about in high schools? Primarily right?
Kelly Chapman 13:47
Right, correct. I want to expand career technical education in high schools. That way students can graduate with an industry certification in, say, construction, healthcare, it any skilled trade that means partnerships with employers, paid apprenticeships and credit towards licenses. Well, they’re still in high school, all right.
Alan Stock 14:07
If people want to find out more about your campaign, how can they do it?
Kelly Chapman 14:12
They can go to Chapman4Nevada.com,
Alan Stock 14:16
Chapman4Nevada.com Is that right? Correct? Just like that. Chapman for Nevada. Kelly Chapman, running for the 41st assembly district. A great candidate for that position. I encourage you to not only get out and vote, but vote for her as well. And again, the tip of that. Thank you to Nevada news and views. Nevada news and views. Wednesday, if you want to find out more about Nevada news and views, go to Nevada, news and views.com. A great resource for news and for commentary. Kelly, thanks so much for joining us. The very best to you, and I know we’ll talk a lot more in the days ahead, but good luck to you.
Kelly Chapman 14:54
Thank you, Alan. I appreciate you.
