This is one in a series of profiles of legislative newcomers. 

ASSEMBLYWOMAN SHEA BACKUS

• Freshman Democrat who succeeds Republican Assemblyman Jim Marchant, whom she defeated in the 2018 general election
• Represents District 37, which includes portions of the northwest corner of Las Vegas and Summerlin
• District 37 is a swing district (37 percent Democratic, 37 percent Republican and 26 percent nonpartisan or other in the 2018 election).
• Backus defeated Robbie Lucille Pearce and Rick Cornstuble in the Democratic primary with 54.6 percent of the vote, or about 2,400 votes.
• She then narrowly defeated Marchant in the general election by 0.5 points, or 135 votes.
• She will sit on the Growth and Infrastructure, Judiciary and Taxation committees.

FAMILY AND EDUCATION:

Backus’ family has long roots in Nevada; her great-grandfather had moved to the state to practice law, her grandmother was born in Eureka and her father was born in Winnemucca. After graduating from Clark High School in Las Vegas, she received her B.S. in management science in 1998 from the University of California, San Diego and eventually returned to the state after receiving her law degree from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in 2003. She is married to Marc McDermont and in her free time enjoys crafts and snowboarding.

CAREER:

Backus said she became a lawyer in order to help others and in her career went on to represent those who cannot afford legal representation. Today, as an attorney in Las Vegas, Backus represents children who have been abused or neglected and are in the state’s foster care system.

ON NEVADA AND THE ISSUES:

What are your top three priorities for the 2019 legislative session?

My number one priority is to support policy that improves our public education. The historical status of Nevada's public education is what interested me in running for public office.  As a proud product of our public schools — Wasden ES, Mabel Hoggard Sixth Grade Center, Hyde Park Jr. H.S. and E.W. Clark H.S. — I desire for children of our great state to have the same opportunities that I did.

As a recent caregiver to my father-in-law, a retired Air Force Officer, I realized the importance of access to health care and support for independent living.  I had the great fortune to take off from work without penalty to get my father-in-law to doctor’s appointments without fear of termination. Thus, I will support economic security policy for hardworking families who have to care for loved ones and access to affordable health care.

What programs/parts of the state government could be cut? What programs/areas need more funding in 2019?

Our education funding definitely needs to be funded adequately and appropriately.

What specifically should Nevada do to improve health care this session? How about education?

With respect to health care, we definitely need to make sure Nevadans with pre-existing medical conditions still can acquire health insurance.  Likewise, we need to focus on recruiting and retaining health-care professionals to our state.

With respect to education, we need to make sure classroom sizes are reduced to ensure that our teachers can adequately educate their students.

Should Nevada raise its Renewable Portfolio Standard to 100 percent by 2050? If not, what should the state's RPS compliance standard be?

Nevadans clearly support moving Nevada forward on renewable energy by voting in favor of the Renewable Energy Standard Initiative of requiring electric utilities to acquire 50 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030.  I believe policy consistent with this standard should be considered prior to setting any absolute of 100 percent within a specific time frame.

Do you support modifying or eliminating current property tax caps in state law?

With residential property values increasing, I am currently opposed to eliminating the residential property tax cap.

Are there any particular issues on which you see yourself working across party lines? If so, which ones? If not, why not?

When chatting with constituents in my district, I recognized that improving our education is a bipartisan issue; thus, I do anticipate working across party lines to implement laws to improve public education.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.