Jan. 05, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Reid, Goodman discuss challenging Ensign
Las Vegas mayor would run against Jack Carter
BY BRENDAN RILEY
Associated Press

The U.S. Senate's Democratic leader confirmed Tuesday that he and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman have discussed the possibility of Goodman challenging Republican Sen. John Ensign this election year.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the Democratic mayor is "a real vote-getter" and would be "a very, very strong candidate" if he entered the race.

"Oscar Goodman is one of the most popular figures ever to hold public office in Nevada," Reid said. "He got 86 percent of the vote the last time he ran. Eighty-six percent."

Goodman on Wednesday would not answer direct questions about whether he intended to enter the race. Instead, he met all inquiries with his oft-repeated statement: "I'm the happiest mayor in the world."

Asked whether he would consider himself a strong candidate should he decide to run against Ensign, Goodman said, "I'm told I would. That's what other people are telling me. I've never even contemplated it."

Reid said his conversations with Goodman indicate otherwise.

"It's something that he's not disinterested in," Reid said.

If Goodman got into the race, he could wind up in a primary battle with Jack Carter, the son of former President Jimmy Carter, who already has launched a Web site soliciting donations and support for a potential run against Ensign. Reid previously has said he would support a Carter campaign.

Carter said Wednesday that he would welcome a primary contest against Goodman, but doubted the mayor is serious about seeking Ensign's seat.

"If Oscar did decide to run and he won," Carter said, "the only problem Oscar would have is he'd actually have to leave Las Vegas for D.C. I don't think that Oscar would be OK with that."

Reid also said he told Goodman that decisions about political campaigns "are very personal decisions. It's a decision he's going to have to make on his own."

"I'm happy to give him any advice or counsel that he needs or wants," Reid said. "I've known him for many, many years and will have to wait and see what he decides to do."

Reid also said Tuesday that any involvement that he might have with Goodman if he became a candidate wouldn't harm the good working relationship he has with Ensign, who narrowly lost to Reid in 1998 and then ran successfully for the state's other Senate seat two years later.

Ensign spokesman Jack Finn wouldn't comment.

"I'm somebody who carries the banner of the Democratic Party," Reid said. "I will do what I can to help Democrats who are running this election cycle."

Reid also said Ensign supported Reid's Republican foe, Richard Ziser, in 2004 and "that certainly didn't affect our relationship."

Review-Journal writer Mike Kalil contributed to this report.

Nov. 30, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Attorney general candidate declares
Cortez Masto formally kicks off campaign
By ERIN NEFF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto tours the Culinary Training Center at Nevada Partners after announcing her candidacy for state attorney general Tuesday.
Photo by Clint Karlsen.
Catherine Cortez Masto formally launched her campaign for attorney general Tuesday, pledging to focus on integrity of taxpayer funds and the ongoing fight against the Yucca Mountain Project.

Cortez Masto, a former assistant U.S. attorney and lifelong Nevadan, kicked off her campaign by news release, forgoing the tradition of an announcement speech in front of supporters.

A Democrat with notable family political lines, she will take on newly appointed Attorney General George Chanos, a Republican, in next year's election.

No one else has announced for the office.

"My credentials are some of the best for this position," Cortez Masto said. "Everything I've done in my career, from general civil litigation to management in the top level of state government, has prepared me."

Cortez Masto, 41, is the daughter of Manny Cortez, former chairman of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and a former Clark County commissioner. She was a chief of staff to former Gov. Bob Miller in 1998, his final year in office, and has recently worked as assistant county manager in Clark County.

Cortez Masto has been aggressively raising money since she resigned that post to focus on the race in August.

"It's been very, very positive," Cortez Masto said, declining to announce what she has raised, except to say that she intends to meet her goal for what she believes will be a $1 million race.

Cortez Masto spent part of the day Tuesday touring the Culinary Training Center at Nevada Partners and meeting with black and Latino community leaders.

In an interview, Cortez Masto said she would have handled differently the recent controversy regarding golf course developer Bill Walters' land deal before the Las Vegas City Council.

Chanos, just days into office, announced he was launching an investigation into the city's vote earlier this month to lift a deed restriction that had prevented Walters from building homes on Royal Links Golf Club land.

Chanos subsequently entered into a $10,000 contract with a special prosecutor, and is seeking additional state funds for the cost of the investigation, to avoid the perception of a conflict since he has a separate land issue coming before the council.

Cortez Masto said she agrees the public is entitled to know the facts about what happened and how their elected officials are making decisions.

"But, personally, I would have handled it differently," she said. "Before you take a case, you always look to see if there are any real or perceived conflicts."

Cortez Masto said she would have talked to both Sheriff Bill Young and District Attorney David Roger about their past investigations into the matter to avoid duplication or to learn additional facts.

Chanos has said his office will look into past investigations, but felt he needed to announce his investigation Nov. 15 because the council was set to again vote on the issue. The original vote in the Royal Links matter was overturned by the council Nov. 16.

Cortez Masto got her bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Reno and graduated from Gonzaga University Law School in 1990.

After her work in the Miller administration, she was named an assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia in 2000, where she was responsible for general felonies such as drug trafficking and weapons offenses.

As a result of that work, Cortez Masto said she wants to elevate prosecution of methamphetamine production and identity theft in the attorney general's office.

"Nevada is second in the nation in cases of identity theft," she said. "It carries a $52 billion cost nationwide, the majority of that to businesses. The attorney general's office can fill in the gaps to prosecute these cases."

Cortez Masto said the federal government won't prosecute cases in which the victim has lost less than $10,000.

Nevada ---NEW MEMBERS OF VETERANS SERVICE COMMISSION NAMED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 17, 2005

CONTACT: Steve George, Dir. of Communications (775) 684-5668

CARSON CITY – Gov. Kenny Guinn has announced three new appointees to the Nevada Veterans’ Service Commission: Margaret Puccinelli from Elko, Ronald Gutzman from Carson City, and Michael Downey, also from Carson City. Governor Guinn also reappointed Las Vegas resident Joanne Molen and David Wyble of Carson City to another two-year term.

“We are privileged and fortunate to be able to tap the resources of these individuals as members of these important commissions,” Gov. Guinn said. “These commissions serve an important role in helping deserving veterans and their families attain services in their time of need.”

The Veterans Service Commission is responsible for making suggestions to the Executive Director of Veterans’ Affairs, Governor and Legislature regarding care issues related to veterans residing in Nevada.

Office of the Governor
101 North Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Fax: 775-684-7198

Grant Sawyer State Office Building
555 East Washington, Suite 5100 Las Vegas, NV 89101
Fax: 702-486-2505

Nov. 11, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

POLITICAL CORRUPTION CASE: Malone gets prison term
Ex-commissioner to appeal three-year sentence
By CARRI GEER THEVENOT
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Former Clark County commissioner Lance Malone leaves the federal courthouse in San Diego on Thursday where a federal judge sentenced him to 36 months in prison for his July conviction on conspiracy, wire fraud and extortion charges.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN DIEGO -- Former Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison for bribing politicians on behalf of strip club magnate Michael Galardi.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller said Malone's crimes validate every cynic's suspicions about the political system and are not mitigated by the fact that the bribes involved relatively small amounts of money.

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"I do not take these offenses lightly," the judge said.

Miller announced Malone's punishment shortly after granting a new trial to former San Diego City Councilman Michael Zucchet, who was convicted in July with Malone and San Diego City Councilman Ralph Inzunza. The judge sentenced Inzunza to 21 months in prison.

Both Malone and Inzunza have vowed to appeal their convictions.

Malone, 43, fought back tears as he made a brief statement in Miller's packed courtroom before learning his sentence. His ex-wife, Rosemary Palacios-Malone, sat nearby.

"I'm extremely sorry for my family, for Rosemary and my two sons, and my mom and dad," Malone said. "I'm sorry for putting them through this nightmare."

Malone also apologized to Inzunza for not telling him that Galardi was reimbursing people who donated to his campaign. Malone was working as a lobbyist for Galardi when the crimes occurred.

"It wasn't my intent to break any laws," Malone said.

Federal prosecutors and a U.S. probation officer had recommended a 57-month prison term for Malone. They argued that his sentence should be enhanced because he played the role of an organizer in the case.

Miller disagreed, saying the evidence failed to establish that Malone exercised organizational control or authority over anyone.

The judge also rejected a defense request to give Malone a nine-month prison term, followed by nine months in a halfway house and nine months of home confinement.

Miller said Malone had demonstrated an intent to do anything necessary to repeal a San Diego law that banned touching between dancers and patrons at San Diego strip clubs.

"The legislative process was debased," Miller said.

Nevertheless, the judge praised Malone for being "a dedicated family man" who has served his community.

"I think that there is much to be said that is good about you, Mr. Malone," he said.

Malone was working as a Las Vegas police officer when he was elected to the Clark County Commission in 1996. He held the elected office from 1997 until 2001.

After Malone lost his bid for re-election, he opened a consulting firm that specialized in lobbying. He soon acquired Galardi as a client.

The relationship led to corruption charges against both men in San Diego and Las Vegas. Galardi pleaded guilty in both cases and is awaiting sentencing. His plea agreements limit his total prison time to five years.

Outside court following Malone's sentencing Thursday, Defense attorney Dominic Gentile said San Diego prosecutors offered Malone a two-year prison sentence at the start of the case in exchange for a guilty plea. Malone rejected the offer.

Galardi testified for the government during the San Diego trial. A trial for Malone and two other former Clark County commissioners, Dario Herrera and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, is scheduled to begin in March in Las Vegas.

Miller ruled on Thursday that Malone and Inzunza may remain free on bond until a status hearing Dec. 12. The judge ordered Malone to pay a $7,500 fine as part of his sentence, but he did not impose a fine on Inzunza.

Gentile said he will seek to keep Malone out of custody during the appeal process.

Miller later hinted that Inzunza would succeed with such a request, telling him, "In all probability, before you spend a day in custody, another court will see this case."

Inzunza cried throughout his statement to the judge during his sentencing hearing, which lasted into the evening.

"I can't tell you how difficult this has been on me and my family," he said. "We're devastated."

Defense attorney Michael Pancer said about 20 members of Inzunza's family, including his wife, came to court for the hearing.

Inzunza, a 36-year-old father of two, said he regrets much about his actions in the case. He called his involvement "embarrassing" and "humiliating."

"I can't believe how dumb I was to get sidetracked on this issue," he said.

Inzunza said he fears going to jail and promised Miller that he will never "get sidetracked like that again."

"I want to make a difference in my community, one way or another, your honor," the defendant said.

Miller described Inzunza's statement of remorse as "one of the most broad-ranging and poignant" he has heard. The judge said Inzunza led an extraordinary life before his involvement in the case, which abruptly ended his political career.

"Yes, you will carry this scar for the rest of your life, but we all carry scars," Miller said.

Prosecutors recommended a 57-month sentence for Inzunza, based on their allegation that he played the role of an organizer, while Pancer recommended probation.

Miller rejected the idea that Inzunza played the role of an organizer and instead granted a reduction based on a combination of circumstances, including the fact that he resigned from office almost immediately after the jury returned its verdicts.

"You have an awful lot of good left in you," the judge said.

Earlier in the day, Miller granted Zucchet's request for a judgment of acquittal on most of the counts in his case because of insufficient evidence. The judge granted Zucchet, a 35-year-old father of one, a new trial on the two remaining counts.

In his written ruling, Miller questioned the credibility of Galardi's surprise testimony that he had paid Malone $10,000 in cash to give to the councilmen. All of the other evidence in the case involved checks given in the form of campaign contributions.

"Although Galardi's testimony may have been credible in other particulars, it was not credible on the $10,000 payment," Miller wrote.

Gentile revealed in court on Thursday that he has new evidence regarding the credibility of Galardi's testimony.

Las Vegas police recently arrested Galardi and his girlfriend, Nevita Thompson, after a domestic dispute. Gentile said Malone picked up Thompson at the Clark County Detention Center after her arrest and secretly recorded a conversation with her.

Thompson testified during the trial and said she witnessed Galardi give Malone cash in April 2003.

Gentile said Thompson told Malone last week that she did not see Galardi give him the cash and that Galardi "frequently lied to her about what he was going to do with money."

Gentile described Thompson and Malone as friends.

Another defendant in the corruption case, San Diego City Councilman Charles Lewis, died before the case went to trial.

Nov. 07, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Films provide fodder at gubernatorial forum
'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Chicken Little,' 'Star Wars' figure into rhetoric at Chamber of Commerce event
By ERIN NEFF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Republican gubernatorial candidate, state Sen. Bob Beers, compares the auditorium in front of him to the Imperial Senate chambers from the "Star Wars" movies during a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce candidate's forum Tuesday at Sierra Health Services. With Beers are fellow gubernatorial candidates Lt. Gov. Lorrraine Hunt, a Republican, and Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson, a Democrat.
Photo by K.M. Cannon.

Mayor Oscar Goodman plans a "special" announcement tomorrow.
Photo by Ronda Churchill.
Movies were on the minds of several gubernatorial candidates last week at the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce forum.

It started when Republican Jim Gibbons appeared via pre-recorded speech on a gigantic screen. His booming voice led one chamber member to proclaim: "It was like the great and powerful Oz."

After the audio was turned down, someone figured the lights at Sierra Health Services' chairman's room also needed to come down.

Ahhh. Mood lighting.

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt went Disney on the crowd, bemoaning what she called "Chicken Little, sky is falling" rhetoric in Nevada. The Republican said that although the state can stand to improve in some areas, there's nothing wrong enough here to cause a panic.

Then state Sen. Bob Beers brought in George Lucas.

Beers, R-Las Vegas, remarked about the enormity of the room, where semicircle seating rose stadium style toward the back.

"It's like the Imperial Senate in Star Wars," Beers told the crowd. "It goes from way down here all the way up to Erin Neff."

This reporter chose the top row for the view. She is not a member of the Imperial Senate on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan.

mayor plans announcement

Happiest Mayor Oscar Goodman plans a "special" announcement tomorrow before a public event celebrating the work of his political action committee, Opac.

Since the event is downtown at the Hogs & Heifers Side Bar, it might be redevelopment news.

Then again, since limited-edition Opac bobbleheads will be given to the first 300 people, it may be an announcement for a run for governor.

The public event starts at 6 p.m. at Hogs & Heifers, 201 N. Third St.

Distinguishing the jims

Whether you call it cowboy country or a mining town, Elko produces some of the more plain speaking residents.

But after the two Jims running for governor stopped by with just one initial separating them, Elkoans have come up with a unique way of distinguishing Republican Congressman Jim Gibbons from Democratic Mayor Jim Gibson.

"Gibbons is a monkey and Gibson is a guitar," is the new running rule.

Don't know whether voters will be more moved by a pol that could be caged or a pol that can be played.

Using the Internet

Howard Dean screamed to popularity on the Internet through a series of "MeetUps" before his verbal outbursts helped derail his presidential bid last year.

In Nevada, the MeetUp became an instant hit as supporters of a variety of candidates found information on the Web and were pointed to a real bricks-and-mortar place to meet like-minded individuals.

There were MeetUps for Dean, John Edwards, Wesley Clark and John Kerry before the Democratic nomination was sorted out.

Now for the first time, the MeetUp is being employed in a local race.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dina Titus' supporters, who are connected via the Web, are planning to MeetUp tonight at 7 at Skinny Dugan's Pub, 4127 W. Charleston Blvd.

Titus, the state Senate minority leader, will make an appearance since it's the inaugural meeting.

Inserted invitations

The Clark County Republican Party is also taking a new approach in bringing supporters together.

Last week the party paid to insert invitations into home-delivered copies of this newspaper in the Summerlin area.

The invitations were to Saturday's big meet-and-greet neighborhood party at Desert Breeze Park. State Sen. Barbara Cegavske and Assemblywoman Valerie Weber, both R-Las Vegas, hosted the local event.

The invitations largely went out to homes in Cegavske's state Senate district.

The insert cost about $800.

Veterans' hospital politics

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley has worked hard on veterans issues, and although she gave Congressman Jim Gibbons' district Nellis Air Force Base during the 2001 reapportionment, she still likes to be out front on vet news.

That's why her staff went ballistic last week when Sen. John Ensign was the first to report about the awarding of an architecture contract for the veterans' hospital in Southern Nevada.

Ensign's press release last Thursday remarked, "This is an important step in an extremely important project, and I'm proud to be able to deliver the news to Nevada's veterans that their hospital is another step closer to reality today."

Ensign, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, continued: "I think Secretary Nicholson and the Bush Administration deserve a lot of credit for recognizing the needs of Nevada's veterans and supporting this crucial project."

Berkley's staff viewed the release as being against the Veterans Administration's own protocol for releasing information. So they called the VA to kvetch.

Berkley, a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, believed she had a right to find out before reading it in another press release.

If it wasn't an election year for Ensign next year, the press release may have just been one of the typical coordinated specialties referred to as coming from "HarryEnsign."

And if that were the case, Berkley would've known.

Contact political reporter Erin Neff at 387-2906 or e-mail her at ENeff@reviewjournal.com.

Oct. 27, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Heller's name recognition puts him in lead in poll on congressional primary
By SEAN WHALEY
@ 2005 REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[Dean Heller
Dawn Gibbons
Sharron Angle]]]

CARSON CITY -- Secretary of State Dean Heller is leading the way over two well-known Republican opponents in the quest to succeed Rep. Jim Gibbons in Congress in District 2, a Review-Journal poll of voters shows.

The telephone poll, conducted Friday through Monday, shows Heller with 37 percent of the vote if the GOP primary was held now, compared to 23 percent for former Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons and 14 percent for Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno.

But more than a quarter of those surveyed, 26 percent, remain undecided in the race.

Heller, a Republican living in the capital who has run statewide races, has higher favorable name recognition than his two announced opponents at 49 percent, the poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research shows.

Gibbons, the spouse of Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., who wants to succeed her husband in Congress, has a 34 percent favorable recognition factor. Angle, who is pushing a California-style Proposition 13 property tax initiative while running for Congress, has a 28 percent favorable factor among those polled.

All three candidates have low negative numbers, according to the poll.

The winner of the Republican primary next August will face the Democratic primary winner. So far one Democrat, university system Regent Jill Derby of Gardnerville, has announced her candidacy for the seat.

Brad Coker, managing partner of the Washington, D.C.-based polling firm, said the poll of 200 Republican voters is a small sample but it gives a flavor of what is going on in the district right now. The margin of error is plus or minus 7 percentage points.

"My sense is Heller is the best-known candidate coming in, and the numbers suggest he is the front-runner," Coker said. "But this is certainly not a done deal. All the numbers reflect right now is name recognition."

Angle agreed, saying both Heller and Gibbons are better-known around the state and within Congressional District 2, which encompasses much of the state. The recognition numbers show Angle has work to do. Forty-seven percent of those polled did not recognize her name, compared to 14 percent for Heller and 13 percent for Gibbons.

"Once the voters have a clear picture of who we are, when they compare our records, I'm confident my numbers will go up," Angle said.

Angle said she is spending her time now speaking out on the property tax and government spending control measures, which the public has an ongoing and active interest in.

"Voters are very issue aware, but they are not very campaign or candidate aware yet," she said. "When I think the voters are interested in the candidates, I will get my message out."

Gibbons said the numbers are encouraging, given that she has not run a statewide race as Heller has.

"He has run three statewide races in the last 11 years," she said. "That he is in the lead does not surprise me.

"I will continue to speak out on the issues: taxes, federal spending, illegal immigration and eminent domain," Gibbons said.

"I don't know what his political philosophy is. I am running on my message. I am running for the job," she said.

Heller said the poll results reflect the hard work he has put into both his job as secretary of state over the long term and the congressional race in the past six months.

Heller said he and his family have spent a lot of time all over the state in the past decade, attending public and political events.

"The bottom line is that whoever works the hardest in this race is going to win and the numbers you see in the poll reflect that," he said.

Oct. 27, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

GOP CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: Beers urges car registration tax cut
$150 million in savings foreseen
By ERIN NEFF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[Bob Beers
State senator says proposal is part of "campaign of ideas"]]]

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beers on Wednesday proposed cutting the vehicle registration tax in Nevada, arguing that local governments "won't miss the money."

At a news conference outside a Department of Motor Vehicles office in Las Vegas, Beers proposed cutting the governmental services tax in half.

The tax, paid when a vehicle is registered, is based on the value of the vehicle. Beers said he would not cut the portion of the tax that goes to fund school districts but would cut completely the portion that goes to local governments.

Beers, a state senator from Las Vegas, estimated that his proposal could save taxpayers more than $150 million next year.

The candidate is recycling an idea that he first proposed during the 2001 Legislature. At that time, Beers was an assemblyman and joined with Democrat David Goldwater to propose shifting the local government portion of the tax to the school districts to cover the cost of raising salaries for teachers.

Beers suggested that the proposal would cost Clark County $29 million, Washoe County $10 million, the city of Las Vegas $23 million and Henderson $9 million.

By his estimation, the hit to Clark County would be 1.45 percent of what he said was $2 billion in cash on hand.

County spokesman Erik Pappa said the county has roughly $100 million in its reserve. He said the $2 billion to which Beers referred largely is earmarked to programs and services.

Clark County finance director George Stevens estimates that the governmental services tax brings in $105 million to all local governments and the school district in Clark County.

Under Beers' proposal, the county would see its revenue drop by $52 million, he said.

"That's still a frightening amount of money, especially for a government that's already stretched thin," Pappa said.

"If he's suggesting that government is fat and happy, that's not the case here."

The governmental services tax is distributed to numerous local government entities across the state.

Beers said he has not discussed his proposal with the Senate Republican Caucus. He did not propose the tax cut during this year's legislative session, but he said he already has requested a bill draft for the proposal for the 2007 Legislature.

The idea did not find support among other gubernatorial candidates.

State Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said she agrees that Nevada must "hold the line on taxes."

"I'll have to see more of his proposal," Titus said Wednesday.

"But it is irresponsible to slash $150 million from local government when they provide critical first-responder services such as fire and rescue."

Greg Bortolin, spokesman for Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson -- who is also a Democratic candidate for governor -- said Beers is "only giving half the story."

"A cut like that translates into a loss of services," Bortolin said.

Beers said he was not daunted by a Review-Journal poll conducted over the weekend that showed him trailing both U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons and Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt in the race to win the GOP primary. The state senator pointed instead to a name-recognition question showing that 71 percent of voters either didn't know him or didn't have an opinion about him.

"This is going to be a campaign of ideas, not a popularity contest," Beers said.

"I will continue to provide my ideas about how to keep tax dollars in the hands of Nevada residents."

Oct. 27, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

JANE ANN MORRISON: Republicans missed chance for spotlight on milquetoast -- and candidates

Why wouldn't Nevada Republicans welcome news coverage of their top candidates running for governor and Congress?

Different versions exist as to why last weekend's state central committee meeting in Sparks shut out the news media. One version: State Party Chairwoman Earlene Forsythe said she closed it to the media at the request of the gubernatorial candidates.

But the candidates I spoke to Tuesday said that wasn't true. They would have loved to have seen the media there. Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Las Vegas state Sen. Bob Beers, and a spokesman for the leader of the pack, Rep. Jim Gibbons, all said they didn't ask the media be banned.

"Not this candidate," Hunt said. "I wish you had all been there. There was a good dialogue."

"Must have been another gubernatorial candidate," Beers said.

The "candidates insisted" version came from Clark County Republican Party Chairman John Hambrick, who said that's what he heard Forsythe say in a phone conversation with other Republican chairmen.

Forsythe said that was wrong. "I wouldn't allow it. It's an internal state party meeting with lots of things to discuss," she said, adding state central committee meetings always have been closed since she became chairwoman 19 months ago. (Only when there was a newsworthy event to cover, did anybody notice.)

With three Republicans vying for the governor's job and three for the 2nd Congressional District, these speeches matter because the people who attend such meetings are the passionate activists most likely to work for candidates they like. The warmth with which they receive each speech is a political indicator.

This meeting also included the election of a new chairman, which routinely is opened to the media.

Las Vegan Paul Adams, who ran without opposition after Forsythe decided not to run, was elected by acclamation. (Sorry, can't tell you whether he gave a good acceptance speech.)

Hambrick, who isn't known for making up whoppers, gracefully said perhaps he hadn't heard Forsythe correctly on the conference call when she said she was closing the meeting. "I thought I heard that she said the candidates insisted," he said.

Hambrick said the county central committee meetings will continue to be open, with the exception of personnel matters. "The sad part is that it was a milquetoast evening," he said.

Adams said meetings under his leadership would be open, with limited exceptions. "I would tend to want to be open." Was anything at the meeting actually sensitive? "No," Adams said. "After the dinner, I made the comment I wish the press had seen the whole thing. The speeches were good. Each candidate gave their vision and said they'd support the primary winner."

Of course, Forsythe's e-mail to the candidates had been very specific with eight "rules governing the speakers" to squelch controversy. Rule 3: No public debates between candidates. Rule 4: No questions from the floor. Rule 6: Topic for speech: "Why I am running for this position and the issues I am running on."

She even banned candidates' political signs!

Since no media was there, here's the analysis from one anonymous Republican who was: Among the gubernatorial candidates, Beers was the best received both because he was funny and sharp and spoke extemporaneously, and because the Clark County delegation liked his idea of breaking up the Clark County School District. Gibbons' speech was mechanical. "Of the three, Lorraine Hunt's was the lightest, it was foo foo, it didn't touch on issues." (Hey, this isn't my analysis. It came from someone who was there.)

Among the candidates for the congressional seat, the GOP source said Republicans seemed to respond best to Secretary of State Dean Heller, then to Reno Assemblywoman Sharron Angle and third to former Reno Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, the congressman's wife.

New Review-Journal polls showed Jim Gibbons and Heller the leaders in their respective races among Republicans, while the state central committee members appeared to favor Beers and Heller. That's worth watching.

Why wouldn't Forsythe want the news media to see Republican candidates on the platform together? Democrats have no such reservations. They fight ferociously and publicly in front of the news media.

If closing the meeting was an attempt at controlling news coverage, this column alone is evidence that ploy doesn't work.

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

Oct. 26, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

Gibbons still leads race for governor
But new poll shows Democrat Titus is gaining ground on GOP rival
By ERIN NEFF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[James Gibson
Dina Titus
Jim Gibbons
Bob Beers
Lorraine Hunt]]]

Congressman Jim Gibbons is still leading the race for governor, but a new Review-Journal poll of voters statewide indicates the race is tightening.

The telephone poll, conducted Friday through Monday, shows Gibbons' lead in the single digits for the first time.

State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus' standing is improving in both the Democratic primary and a hypothetical general election matchup with Republican Gibbons.

The poll shows Gibbons handily winning his primary and beating both Titus and Democrat Jim Gibson, the Henderson mayor.

But support for Gibbons has fallen slightly from the last poll in May, and Titus is now within 9 percentage points of the congressman in a head-to-head matchup.

"We're extremely pleased," said David Barnhart, Titus' campaign manager.

"The more voters learn about Dina, the more they're responding to what she's been saying about government needing to educate kids and lock up bad guys and get out of the way."

Gibbons said Tuesday he is focused on the Republican primary race and not which Democrat might be narrowing the gap.

"I'm truly honored by the support indicated by the poll," said Gibbons, which showed him with 45 percent of the vote in a matchup with Titus, who took 36 percent.

Nineteen percent of respondents were undecided.

"We anticipate that the polls will continue to fluctuate, but I'm glad to see that people support what I've done in Congress and the vision I have been expressing for the state."

The poll of 625 voters, conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points in statewide and general election questions.

Party primary questions were conducted with a smaller sample size and have a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points.

The poll shows Titus is closer to Gibbons than is her Democratic counterpart.

Gibbons would beat Titus by 9 points and Gibson by 15 points.

Gibson is often cited by political consultants as having the better chance of beating Gibbons in a general election.

The mayor is regarded as a more conservative Democrat than Titus, and the state's recent elections have been trending to Republicans.

"Mayor Gibson has been officially in the race since Thursday," said campaign spokesman Greg Bortolin.

"This is really a function of what a campaign is all about. We believe and the mayor believes that once voters are exposed to the mayor's vision and record, the numbers will reflect more support."

Brad Coker, managing partner of the Washington, D.C.-based polling firm, said that with 10 months to go before the primary elections, the race is still up in the air.

"You can't dismiss anyone at this point," Coker said.

All polls conducted in the race thus far put Gibbons in the lead.

The congressman continues his primary domination in this poll, leading Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt by 36 points.

State Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, hasn't broken the double-digit mark.

But Gibbons has dropped several points in a primary matchup, from a high of 60 percent to Hunt's 13 percent in a May Mason-Dixon poll.

And though Hunt has yet to come close to Gibbons, she is leading both Democrats in hypothetical general election contests.

Hunt would beat Titus 40 percent to 35 percent, and would beat Gibson 39 percent to 38 percent, with the remaining voters undecided.

"It clearly shows that I could win the general election, so it's up to me to get busy now," Hunt said.

"I need to get started campaigning so folks can know who I am and support me to win the primary."

Hunt also has the second-highest name recognition in the poll, with 89 percent of voters statewide recognizing her, thanks largely to her two previous statewide victories.

"Once people understand my experience and see that I have the best qualities for the job, I think they're going to hire me," she said.

Gibbons still enjoys the best recognition, but his negative number has crept up slightly since May.

In the last poll, 12 percent of voters viewed him unfavorably. Now 17 percent do.

"Gibbons is still the front-runner but his support has dropped a bit," Coker said.

"It may be a function of fallout from his wife running for Congress at the same time."

Gibbons' wife, Dawn Gibbons, is running for his congressional seat in the 2nd Congressional District.

Titus and Gibson have also been criticizing the congressman in campaign events around the state, and university system Chancellor Jim Rogers also has made critical remarks.

But Democrats continue to believe Titus is the best one to take Gibbons on.

Titus wins a primary match-up with Gibson 40 percent to 26 percent, with a third of voters undecided.

In May, when Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins was in the race for the Democratic nomination, Titus was leading Perkins 31 percent to 16 percent with more than half undecided.

Perkins withdrew from the race in September citing an inability to win a contested primary and still have enough resources to take on Gibbons.

With 10 months before the Aug. 15 primaries and more than a year before the general election, Coker said the race is still Gibbons' to lose.

Said Coker: "Gibbons will come out of the primary as the one to beat and the Democrats are going to spend the next 10 months chasing him."