Nader close call to make ballot

Friday, July 12, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Will consumer advocate Ralph Nader make it onto the Nov. 5 presidential ballot in Nevada?

It'll be a close call, says Sandy Rizzo, of the Green Party of Nevada.

"I'm nervous but excited," Rizzo said Thursday, the final day for minor parties to collect 3,761 signatures, or 1 percent of those who voted in the 1994 congressional elections.

Nader, the Green Party's choice for president, is on the ballot in nine states. The party advocates environmental and consumer protection.

Rizzo said the Nevada party collected 4,200 signatures. Only 100 are from Clark County.

Voter registrars in Washoe and Clark counties will check the names and eliminate those who are not legal voters.

As many as seven presidential candidates could qualify for the Nevada ballot, including President Clinton and former Sen. Bob Dole, the Republican challenger.

Texas billionaire Ross Perot's Reform Party submitted 7,000 signatures Wednesday.

Former Colorado Gov. Richard Lamm has said he will seek the party's nomination in August. Perot said this week he will run if nominated.

The Independent American, Libertarian and Natural Law parties are also attempting to qualify.

Congress scorecard

Liberals adore Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev. Labor unions and senior citizens love Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Christian groups and business organizations admire Reps. Barbara Vucanovich and John Ensign, both R-Nev.

That information is gleaned from votes recorded in the "Voter's Self-Defense Manual," an annual publication from Project Vote Smart, a nonpartisan organization in Corvallis, Ore., founded by former presidents Ford and Carter.

Bryan received a perfect 100 rating last year from the liberal Americans for Democratic Action. He also scored 90 or better from the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights League, AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education, League of Conservation Voters and National Council of Senior Citizens. He drew zeros from Handgun Control Inc. and the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

Reid earned perfect scores from the AFL-CIO and the senior citizens council. His lowest scores were from the American Conservative Union and Competitive Enterprise Institute.

Vucanovich received a 100 from the National Right to Life Committee. Along with Ensign, she received perfect scores from the Christian Coalition and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Vucanovich and Ensign rated zeros from the abortion league, Americans for Democratic Action and AFL-CIO.

Of 19 votes examined, Reid and Bryan differed on two. Reid voted with the Senate majority to ban partial-birth abortions. He also voted to override President Clinton's veto of a bill to reduce frivolous class-action lawsuits against investment and finance firms.

Vucanovich and Ensign also differed on two votes. Vucanovich voted with the majority against phasing out sugar price supports. She also voted with the majority in favor of a bill to abolish one of three foreign affairs agencies.

Raggio dinner

A fund-raising dinner benefitting state Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, is set for 7 p.m. July 17 at the Mirage hotel-casino.

Scheduled speakers include Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn, Boyd Gaming Chairman Chuck Ruthe and Deputy District Attorney Charles Thompson.

Raggio is the Senate majority leader. His only opponent is American Independent Bruce Holcomb.

Tickets are $250. For information, contact Mike Dayton at 788-6602.

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