Guinn to run for governor

Thursday, Feb. 29, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Retired banker Kenny Guinn, succumbing to two decades of sweet-talking from GOP bigwigs, says he's ready to run for governor in 1998.

"For the last 20 years, this issue has been brought up in the media and the community, and I have not been ready to step out," Guinn says. "But at this time, I am prepared to make a commitment, and so is my wife."

Las Vegas political consultant Sig Rogich, a former top aide to President George Bush, is giving up his own aspirations for governor to explore Guinn's chances of helping the Republicans recapture the state's highest office.

A formal announcement is months away, but Rogich, who has many high-powered clients on the Strip and elsewhere, has been putting the word out behind the scenes that Guinn wants the job.

"I can be more enthusiastic about Kenny Guinn's candidacy for governor than my own," Rogich says. "Frankly, he'll be a great governor. There's just no doubt in my mind."

In the past several weeks, Rogich has worked to drum up a broad base of support for Guinn, and he likes the response he's been getting.

"I'm reaching out to everyone I think would make a difference in the race," Rogich says. "Almost to a man or woman, they have indicated they would give us maximum support."

Guinn himself has discussed his candidacy with influential Republicans, such as restaurant owner Tom Wiesner and Clark County Aviation Director Bob Broadbent.

At 59, Guinn already has crammed in more than a lifetime of public service. He's coming off a hero's stint at the helm of UNLV, where he moved to heal deep wounds over the bitter feud between former Rebels basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian and ex-President Bob Maxson.

Though a Republican, Guinn has helped elect the past two Democratic governors and has served on important blue-ribbon panels that have helped shape the state.

In his most recent assignment for Nevada, Guinn headed a special committee that developed the blueprint for Gov. Bob Miller's reorganization of state government. Guinn also chaired the Republicans for Miller campaign during the governor's last two elections.

His friendship with Miller will make it difficult for the governor to back the Democratic nominee seeking to succeed him.

A former Clark County superintendent of schools who has kept up his ties to education, Guinn also is very strong in the business community. He has served as chairman of PriMerit Bank and continues to sit on the boards of several major Las Vegas companies, among them Southwest Gas Corp., Boyd Gaming Group and Del Webb Corp.

And his devotion to civic affairs and local charities has become legendary.

Guinn's early efforts to organize a campaign appear designed to get a jump on other well-known potential challengers. It might even force some to follow Rogich and rethink their political careers.

Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren, a fellow Republican, has made it clear he intends to run for governor. But with Guinn in the race, Hammargren isn't likely to get much help from party regulars who view him as an eccentric.

Guinn also would take away much of the political strength on the Strip from the leading Democratic candidates -- Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa and Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones.

"If he's in the race, he'll be the instant favorite," Rogich says. "He's an unusually talented candidate."

Guinn says he's changed his mind about entering politics because he has more time on his hands now that he's retired.

He says he wants to play a key role in leading the nation's fastest-growing state into the 21st century.

"I've been here when the state was small," he says. "I've been here when there's been tremendous growth. And I hope to be here when we get much, much bigger."

JEFF GERMAN is a senior investigative reporter. He has a column that appears in the Las Vegas SUN on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. He can be reached at 259-4067 or on the Internet at german@lvsun.com