Monday, July 18, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Titus to run for governor in '06

Senate minority leader announces in Minden that she'll pursue Democratic nomination

By CHRISTINA ALMEIDA
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dina Titus
Lawmaker joins what is expected to be a crowded field to succeed Gov. Kenny Guinn

Nevada Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus announced her candidacy for governor Sunday, pledging to reach out to voters across the state and conduct an inclusive campaign.

Titus, a Las Vegas Democrat who has served as minority leader since 1993, officially launched her campaign Sunday evening at an appearance in Minden, in rural Douglas County.

"Part of the message in this campaign is that we should be one state, not liberal versus conservative, not rural versus urban," Titus told The Associated Press shortly before her scheduled announcement.

Titus joins what is expected to be a crowded field in the race to replace Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn, who faces term limits in 2006.

Her likely opposition in the Democratic primary will be Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins of Henderson. Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson is also mulling a run for the Democratic nomination.

On the Republican side, state Sen. Bob Beers of Las Vegas and Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt have both announced their candidacies. Rep. Jim Gibbons is considered an early front-runner, although he has yet to make a formal announcement.

Others considering a run, largely at the urging of Guinn, are University Chancellor Jim Rogers and Reno Mayor Bob Cashell.

Titus, a political science professor at UNLV, said she has the integrity, experience and the commitment to be governor.

"I'm a straight talker, and that's what people like," Titus said. "I'm a fighter. You've got to fight the federal government on Yucca Mountain. You have to fight other states for water."

She said she plans to run an aggressive campaign that will touch voters everywhere in Nevada. "I want to make a statement that this is going to be a statewide campaign," she said. "We're going to aggressively campaign in each county, starting in Minden."

Titus also will announce her candidacy in Reno this morning and at 3 p.m. in Las Vegas in the Cambridge Community Center, 3930 Cambridge St., Room A.

Friday, July 15, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Brodsky resigns from School Board
REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[Denise Brodsky
School Board member moving to Louisiana to work for United Way]]]

Less than halfway through her second term on the Clark County School Board, Trustee Denise Brodsky announced her resignation Thursday.

Brodsky, who was first elected to the board in 2000, will take a position as the executive director of the nonprofit United Way in Luling, La.

Her resignation becomes effective Aug. 4.

"I will always be grateful to the citizens of Clark County who have put their faith in me," Brodsky said. "I am confident that the board, together with the citizens of Clark County, will continue its mission of improving student achievement."

Brodsky represents District E, which includes 41 schools.

Board President Larry Mason said Brodsky's contributions will be missed. "Your constituents will miss you and the board will miss you for being an integral part of this team," he said.

According to state law, any vacancy on a school board must be filled by School Board vote. The appointee must serve until the next general election, and will have to be elected if he or she wants to remain on the School Board.

Saturday, July 09, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

JANE ANN MORRISON: Assistant county manager will get lots of help in attorney general race

Catherine Cortez Masto is quitting a perfectly good job as assistant county manager next month, becoming a full-time candidate for state attorney general nearly one year out from the primary election.

When you look at the backing she already has, it's unlikely she'll face a serious challenge in the Democratic primary.

Already supporting her candidacy are the Democratic Big Guns: Sen. Harry Reid, Rep. Shelley Berkley, former Sen. Richard Bryan, former Gov. Bob Miller, Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley and former Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa.

Her likely Republican opponent is George Chanos, a Las Vegas attorney who says he's "very interested in the position."

Chanos is waiting for a couple of things to fall into place before he makes it official. First, Attorney General Brian Sandoval needs to see his nomination for a federal judgeship advance. Then, Gov. Kenny Guinn has to decide to appoint Chanos to serve the rest of Sandoval's term. His wife, Nevada Consumer Advocate Adriana Escobar Chanos, has already said she's willing to resign to become a stay-at-home mom so her husband can run.

For Cortez Masto, nothing is standing in the way of her candidacy, so Friday she told County Manager Thom Reilly Aug. 12 is her last day.

Deciding to quit showed some smarts. Now she can raise the estimated $2 million necessary without any conflicts, real or perceived, when she's asking for money from developers and gamers. No one will be able to accuse her of campaigning on the taxpayer's dime when she should be working.

Cortez Masto wants to be attorney general because she no longer wants to be the person working on other people's policy decisions. She wants to be driving the policy herself. For her, that means focusing on priorities such as domestic violence, victims' rights, identity theft, juvenile justice and methamphetamine abuse.

"Everything I've done in my career has prepared me for this job," she said.

Her career includes four years as a civil attorney in Las Vegas and two years as a criminal prosecutor for the U.S. attorney's officer in Washington, D.C.

Masto knows government as Miller's former chief of staff. Since January 2002, she's been assistant county manager over Clark County's legal and judicial departments.

For those who don't know, she's Manny Cortez's kid.

As a daughter of the former county commissioner, she picked up some insider knowledge about politics and government. She knows more than most how rough and ugly campaigning can be, how intense the scrutiny will be.

Has she done drugs? "I tried marijuana once or twice at parties," she said. But her dad threatened her. He said if she or her sister did drugs, he'd shave their heads.

Cortez Masto can't help but benefit from her dad's connections as a politician and as former head of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Just like County Commissioner Rory Reid, Cortez Masto, 41, is the adult child of a powerful man who will open doors for her. But like Rory Reid, she's got to prove her own worth.

Aside from her father, there's another man helping Cortez Masto.

Her husband of seven years, Paul Masto, is second in command in the Secret Service office in Las Vegas and has a law enforcement career spanning 23 years. Law enforcement groups looking to endorse a candidate will probably see that as a plus.

By the way, she met her future husband courtesy of President Clinton. During his Las Vegas visits, Clinton usually was accompanied by Gov. Miller. As chief of staff, she discussed security issues with Masto.

With some subtlety, or so I thought, I tried to confirm that when Clinton visits Las Vegas he uses a condo at The District courtesy of his buddy Brian Greenspun. But Cortez Masto wouldn't betray her husband's secrets.

Meanwhile, Sandoval recently received an encouraging call from Reid predicting the judicial confirmation process, which has been languishing, may be shaking loose.

That's encouraging news for both Sandoval and Chanos.

Sandoval had started to joke he was going to have to run again for attorney general while waiting for the judgeship to became a reality. Some thought he wasn't joking.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at jane@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0275.

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) released the following statement today in response to the announcement of the impending retirement of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor from the U.S. Supreme Court:

“Sandra Day O’Connor forever changed the Supreme Court simply through her role as the first female Justice, and she will continue to serve as an inspiration for all women long after she has retired. Justice O’Connor has served our nation with distinction and honor, and while I may not have agreed with every opinion she has written, I greatly admire her work and I thank Justice O’Connor for all that she has contributed to America’s legal system and to the Supreme Court of the United States. Through her conduct on the bench, Justice O’Connor has set a high standard for any replacement and it is my hope that the President will nominate someone who shares her judicial temperament and who is as equally well qualified to serve on the highest court in the land.”*2

---------------------------------------------
References

*1. Google.com. 'A Press Release of U. S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley,' "A search of 'congresswoman shelley berkley' on the Google.com," (July 4, 2005), U. S. A.: Google.com.
*2. Ibid.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOHN L. SMITH: Poll affirms Gibbons' inside track to governorship; Perkins stuck at gate

Nevada's political trainers just now are going over their track strategies in anticipation of the 2006 governor's race.

But a statewide Magellan Research poll on the subject says that not all the horses have four legs and that a couple bear a striking resemblance to Shetland ponies.

At least one probable entrant is lucky that the glue factory isn't open for business, or he'd be taking his last ride.

The real race won't surface for months, but Magellan's Marvin Longabaugh says Republican front-runner Jim Gibbons remains a substantial favorite to go all the way. The poll was commissioned by a local campaign consultant on behalf of a Southern Nevada political action group.

According to the 1,000-sample survey, balanced by political affiliation, gender, and age with a margin of error of about 3 percent, the congressman easily would defeat all potential challengers with the exception of Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. But even in the event of a Gibbons-Goodman race, Gibbons shows a 48.1 to 36.9 advantage over the mayor. (And, yes, yes, Goodman has indicated that he won't run.)

Goodman polls as easily the most highly recognized name among top Democrats, but what about those who actually have expressed interest in running for the office?

Take Goodman out of the mix, and something fascinating happens. Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus rises in stature and far outdistances Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson in a primary proposition.

But what about Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins?

So far in this derby, he's a proverbial rocking horse.

Put it this way. Scientists have spotted more life on Mars than in Perkins' gubernatorial bid. We're talking fossilized microbe-level readings here.

In a Democratic primary without Goodman on the ballot, Titus picks up the most steam, going from 19.5 percent to 36.3 percent of the vote, far ahead of Gibson's 21.2 percent. Perkins continues to rack up single digits despite his increased profile during the recent session of the Legislature.

Perkins has plenty of friends in high political places, strategists Pete Ernaut and Billy Vassiliadis among them.

What he doesn't seem to have is a pulse.

"I find it unbelievable that he can mount any sort of media campaign sufficient to get him out such a hole," attorney Longabaugh says. "People have said it's possibly because of his performance at the Legislature, but I think it's just because folks don't know who he is. It's a name identification issue, not a performance issue."

Titus looks great in a Democratic primary sans Goodman, but according to the survey her problems begin once the pre-run is finished. Bluntly stated, without a lot of help she figures to get smoked in a general election against Gibbons. The tally: 50.4 to 27.1, with the rest undecided.

Obviously, Titus is going to have to work on her crossover appeal outside Clark County.

"It surprises me that Perkins did as poorly as he did and that Dina Titus did as well as she did," Longabaugh says.

Technically, the Republican primary won't be handed outright to Gibbons, but according to the poll his potential competition doesn't add up to anything he should worry about.

Of several names to surface, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt enjoys the most name recognition, but in a primary she trails Gibbons by a wide margin: 49.4 percent to 14.1 percent, with 8.2 percent going to State Sen. Bob Beers and 4.2 percent favoring University Chancellor and television station magnate Jim Rogers.

Gibbons is no Secretariat, but at this rate he won't have to be.

What does it all mean?

The election won't be held until next year, but watch these numbers reverberate. The poll will be downplayed by some, but it can't be ignored.

"Perkins is a nonstarter," consummate handicapper Longabaugh says, "and it's Gibbons' race to lose."

Gov. Kenny Guinn and his allies will spend the next few months trying to explain the nuances of his two terms as a terribly sincere tax-and-spend Republican. Meanwhile, although you can't yet hear the thunder of hooves, there's a governor's race on behind the scenes.

A lot must happen in 16 months to ensure a competitive finish to this lopsided derby in the making.

John L. Smith's column appears Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.

Sunday, June 19, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

WEEK IN REVIEW: Reporters Notebook

***Councilman Michael Mack got warm send-off from colleagues.

COUNCILMAN MICHAEL MACK, WHO DECIDED NOT TO SEEK RE-ELECTION, appeared at his final Las Vegas City Council meeting on Wednesday. Long-winded council members took turns saluting Mack for more than 30 minutes, but two members were more succinct.

Councilman Lawrence Weekly lauded Mack's service, then recalled their parallel paths. "We were appointed together. We've traveled together. We've hit the nightclubs together," Weekly said, eliciting a knowing smile from Mack and laughter from others on the dais. Weekly added something that sounded like "dude is really, really crazy outside the office."

Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, who has clashed repeatedly with Mack since joining the council in February, had by far the briefest comments. "We've disagreed some on issues," Tarkanian told Mack. "May God truly give you all you deserve for the rest of your life."

J.M. KALIL

Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

North Las Vegas mayor re-elected
Republican accused challenger of dirty politics while easily winning third term
By JULIET V. CASEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL

North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon gets a congratulatory hug from his wife, Antoinette, at Montandon's victory party Tuesday night at Jerry's Nugget.
Photo by Isaac Brekken.

North Las Vegas mayoral candidate Andres Ramirez, left, watches early election results Tuesday with campaign volunteer Steve Sampson and Sandra Ramos, director of Get Out The Vote, at the Teamsters Local 14. Ramirez lost to incumbent Mayor Michael Montandon.
Photo by K.M. Cannon.

North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon on Tuesday claimed victory over challenger Andres Ramirez, after a campaign marked on both sides by accusations of dirty politics.

Montandon, a Republican, won a third term with 59 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Clark County Elections Department.

"I felt really confident all along, but that doesn't take away from the high," Montandon said as he celebrated his win at Jerry's Nugget Casino with friends and family.

As for his plans for the upcoming term, Montandon said, "Nothing really changes from this point forward. We're just going ahead like we've been doing."

Those voting for Montandon said they either didn't like Ramirez's campaign tactics or they felt Montandon was doing a good job.

After conceding defeat about 8:30 p.m., when nearly complete results had him trailing Montandon by 17 percentage points, Ramirez said he was proud of his campaign.

"We wanted to give voters an opportunity to chose, to give them an option, and to hold the mayor accountable," Ramirez said. "I think we did that. We just didn't have enough voters turn out for us."

Bill Beatty, 65, who was only the ninth voter to cast a ballot at Squires Elementary School, said he was drawn to the polls to vote for mayor.

"I'm a Democrat, but I didn't vote for the Democrat," he said. "I voted for Montandon, mainly because I didn't like a lot of the political crap the other guy was pulling."

Toni Lopez, a 40-year-old Democrat voting at Lincoln-Edison Elementary, said although she liked Ramirez personally, she still felt Montandon should stay in office.

"The mayor's race isn't just about the mayor," Lopez said. "He's part of the City Council, part of the team. I think Montandon should stay with the team."

Even with substantially lighter campaign coffers than the incumbent, Ramirez riled the mayor by purchasing Internet domain names Montandon could have used for his campaign Web site. Ramirez also accused the mayor of illegally placing political signs on public property.

Then, as the campaign season started winding down in May, Montandon filed a criminal complaint alleging Ramirez stole Montandon campaign signs and replaced them with Ramirez signs. Police later recovered 48 signs from Ramirez's campaign headquarters.

Those who supported Ramirez, a Democrat, said they either felt the establishment needed some new blood or that they wanted a Hispanic in office so the fastest growing and largest minority group in the community would have a voice in city government.

Salvador Romero, a 44-year-old voter who said he is nonpartisan, said Ramirez won his vote largely because he appealed to Hispanics.

"I wanted someone who might start to give us Hispanics a voice," Romero said in Spanish. "There's hardly anyone out there advocating for us, and there are a lot of us out here in North Las Vegas now."

In North Las Vegas, the second fastest-growing large city in the country, Hispanics represent about 38 percent of the population and blacks about 19 percent.

Eddie Flores, a 31-year-old Democrat voting at Tom Williams Elementary School, said Ramirez's being Hispanic helped sway his vote toward the challenger. But, he added, "I'm always for the underdog."

Review-Journal staff writer Andrew Strickler contributed to this report.

Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORTH LAS VEGAS: Incumbent wins third term
Councilwoman eyes several plans
By JULIET V. CASEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL

***North Las Vegas City Councilwoman Stephanie Smith celebrates her election victory Tuesday night with husband Jeff Englehart in their North Las Vegas home.
---Photo by K.M. Cannon.

North Las Vegas City Councilwoman Stephanie Smith on Tuesday won her third term in a blowout against challenger Jean Withers.

"I feel very fortunate," Smith said from her home.

Smith, a Democrat, won more than 75 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results.

Smith's challenger, Jean Withers, a relative newcomer to the city, said her defeat Tuesday would not deter her from continuing to attend City Council meetings.

"I'm keeping my hand in this business," she said. "They haven't heard the last of me yet."

Smith, a middle school music teacher in the Clark County School District, said she is excited to start her third term, in which she hopes to play a role in getting a senior center built in North Las Vegas.

She said she also plans to help shape the newly acquired Craig Ranch Golf Course into a regional park with an amphitheater.

"I'm looking forward to continuing all the good things we've started," she said.

Among other city plans she said she wants to be involved in are building a new veterans hospital, overseeing redevelopment efforts and planning for the next Bureau of Land Management acreage release.

Most of the voters casting ballots for Smith said she won their vote either because they thought she was doing a good job or because they had seen her billboards and recognized her name.

Roy Brown, a 60-year-old Democrat, said he voted for Smith because "I know Stephanie, and I hear a lot about how she's doing a good job for us and that she's showing herself to be clean."

"Her opponent, Withers, I didn't know much about her," he said. "She should've showed herself more."

Becky Hansen, a 36-year-old Democrat, voted for Smith "just because that's who my mom told me to vote for," she said. "But to be honest, I hadn't heard anything about either candidate."