Mastroluca announces in Assembly District 29

LAS VEGAS-On the heels of Assemblywoman Susan Gerhardt's surprising announcement last week that she would not be seeking reelection, Nevada Democrats announced today that April Mastroluca, a 40-year-old education and child welfare advocate would be seeking her seat in the 29th District.

"I have already started working hard, meeting people and getting campaign donations, and with the backing of [Assembly Speaker] Barbara Buckley and the rest of party, I feel really confident that this is a district that Democrats can win," said Mastroluca.

Besides Buckley, Mastroluca has also received support from Gerhardt, who is currently recovering from surgery.

"April really understands the challenges facing our district," said Gerhardt. "She knows how to really listen to people, work with everyone affected by a problem and produce results."

Although she has not held elected office, Mastroluca is no stranger to Carson City, having advocated for groups like the Nevada PTA and the Junior League, among others, during the last four legislative sessions.

Mastroluca's work history includes three years with the National Parent-Teacher Association as well as time with the Southern Nevada Chapter of the Red Cross and the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.

Although Democrats hold a voter registration edge of over 1,100 votes in the district, Mastroluca will be facing a tough opponent in Republican Sean Fellows. Fellows, a 28-year-old Air Force Reserve Captain, has been campaigning steadily in the district for nearly a year and has held two high-profile fundraisers.

"I think the last eight months of me being out, meeting with residents in my district, learning firsthand what's important to them, have given me an advantage being out there and meeting with them and getting to best serve them," said Fellows.

Mastroluca, however, said today that she is not concerned about Fellows' head start and is building a campaign team of her own with the help of Lindsey Jydstrup, the Nevada Democrats' legislative caucus director.

"I think that I am a good representative of my district and I can relate very well to the people that live there," said Mastroluca. "A lot of them are very much like me. They are parents and working-class people and I think that we will have a lot in common and I can definitely listen to their issues and make sure their voices are heard in Carson City."

Joseph K. Cooper can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

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