Two Washoe County Democrats get high marks on environmental issues

CARSON CITY — Sen. Sheila Leslie and Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, both Washoe County Democrats, were named Monday as legislators of the year for their support of environmental issues during the 2011 legislative session by the Nevada Conservation League.

Gov. Brian Sandoval received a "B" grade for his backing of pro-environmental legislation during the session.

Scores of all legislators were calculated and have been posted by the Nevada Conservation League on its website: conservationscorecard.org/home.

Scores were based on legislators’ votes on environmental, renewable energy, wildlife and other conservation-related bills. Democrats, in general, scored higher than Republicans. Southern Nevada legislators received higher scores than those in rural and Northern Nevada.

"As we head into the 2012 elections, voters should remember how their elected officials voted on key environmental issues and work to return pro-environmental legislators to Carson City," said Jennifer Taylor, chairwoman of the Nevada Conservation League board of directors.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.