DA PLANS WORK ON PRISON TERMS, VICTIMS' SERVICES

Still reeling from a resounding re-election, Washoe County District
Attorney Richard Gammick said Monday he plans to work with federal
agencies to lock up criminals for longer prison terms and hopes to
make progress on a center for victims.

Gammick attributed his overwhelming support -- his unopposed candidacy
received 80,927 votes, more than any other person or measure on last
Tuesday's ballot -- to his successful collaborative efforts with other
agencies and his strong team of experienced prosecutors.

The 56-year-old chief attorney for the county said he plans to build
on that success during his third four-year term in the
$96,000-per-year post.

"I love what I'm doing," said the sharp-tongued, no-nonsense
prosecutor. "We put crooks away. We're holding people responsible for
their conduct. We're doing everything possible to keep this community
as safe as possible."

Among his proudest accomplishments this year, he said, was his effort
to defeat Question 9, a statewide initiative to legalize up to 3
ounces of marijuana. Gammick was outspoken in his opposition to the
idea.

"Stopping Question 9 was beautiful," he said. "I'm just tickled to
death that people are telling (proponents of the measure) to go away."

Getting information to the public about the physical and mental
effects of marijuana was important to fighting that measure, he said.
Nevada voters rejected Question 9 by a margin of 61 percent to 39 percent.

In Washoe County it failed by a margin of 56.6 percent to 43.4
percent.

"The only way to beat this drug epidemic is through education," he
said.

A more long-term success under his watch has been the early case
resolution program, he said. In operation for the past four-and-a-half
years, the program has saved the county about $1.2 million annually in
jail space costs and witness fees, he said.

Under the program, senior prosecutors and senior public defenders
huddle early in a case to determine whether they can skip the routine
hearings and land a quick conviction.

"We usually have a deal cut in 72 hours," he said.

In the near term, Gammick plans to help design his offices in the new
court building - a plan that will place his team of state lawyers
under one roof.

He said he also wants to build on a recently established collaboration
between his office, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms and the U.S. attorney's office.

During the past year, the three agencies have begun to share cases,
particularly gun-related cases, to ensure the longest possible prison
terms for violators, he said.

A more long-term goal is the continued development of a Violence
Intervention Center of Truckee Meadows, he said.

The center would be a place for victims of violent crimes to meet with
police, prosecutors, medical staff, child protective services and
health department officials in one safe place, he said.

"We've been after this for seven years," he said, adding they recently
received a grant to hire an architectural firm to being laying out the
building. "We're starting to put pen to paper," he said.

Gammick, a Nevada native formally from Elko, won his first race for
district attorney by beating Ed Basl in 1994. He received 75,000 votes
in his unopposed bid for re-election in 1998. He said he seems to have
found his niche.

He was riding alone in the car the other day and asked himself: "What
the hell would you be doing if you weren't doing this?" he said
Monday. "I had no answer. I'm happy."