Miller chastises Lowden over ‘misleading’ mailer

Thursday, Oct. 31, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Gov. Bob Miller says he's offended that a campaign mailer put out by state Sen. Sue Lowden, R-Las Vegas, implies that he's endorsing her re-election.

"I'm resentful of the fact that they would try and give the impression that I am supporting her, when it's not true," the Democratic governor said Wednesday. "This was done without my permission."

Though he acknowledges being a longtime friend of Lowden, Miller said he is backing her Democratic opponent, Valerie Wiener, in the District 3 race. The district covers east-central Las Vegas.

The campaign piece prints flattering remarks Miller made about Lowden at a benefit two years ago honoring the senator. The remarks are printed beside a photo of Lowden with Miller.

"I've known Sue Lowden since she was a reporter at Channel 8," the mailer quotes Miller as saying. "I had the opportunity to witness Sue Lowden in the role of state senator. ... She quickly became a leader in the Legislature."

Miller said his comments were not made in the context of a political setting and that Lowden never attempted to tell him about the flier until after it was mailed this week.

Lowden's campaign manager, Jim Denton, said Lowden tried several times to contact Miller, but she couldn't reach him.

Denton also defended the use of the quotes.

"We're not implying in any way, shape or form that the governor was endorsing her," Denton said. "All we did was repeat what he said at a dinner honoring her."

Denton said the mailer clearly indicates the governor's remarks were made at the 1994 benefit.

Lowden is facing a tough re-election fight with Wiener, who is receiving campaign support from organized labor.

The Culinary Union, the state's largest labor group, has made Lowden its top political target.

Lowden and her husband, Paul, who own the Santa Fe hotel-casino, are locked in a bitter organizing fight with the Culinary.