Nolan strikes back at his opposition

Friday, April 11, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

FORMER Louisiana Gov. Huey Long once said that if you can't win people over, you should dynamite them out of the way.

Assemblyman Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, seems to have taken a page from Long's book.

Nolan's critics say he has created an explosive situation by asking the Legislative Counsel Bureau to investigate the conduct of a PTA lobbyist.

Nolan objects to a flier that Nevada PTA Legislative Chairwoman Barbara Clark circulated criticizing his bill requiring volunteers who work with children to be fingerprinted or enrolled in an educational program. Some organizations, including the Mormon Church, object to the cost.

In Nolan's view, the PTA flier contained blatant lies that left the impression that parents wouldn't even be allowed to visit their children in school. "We are not criminals," the flier said. "Don't shut us out of our schools."

Those remarks ignited Nolan's fuse. He asked Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Lorne Malkiewich to investigate, citing a state law that says "a lobbyist shall not knowingly or willfully make any false statement or misrepresentation of facts." If Malkiewich rules in Nolan's favor, Clark could lose her lobbyist registration.

Those who oppose Nolan's investigation say he's guilty of the worst form of intimidation.

"If people are afraid to oppose a legislator or a bill," said one lawmaker who asked to remain unnamed, "what kind of message does that send to the public?"

Nolan, who revealed during a hearing that he and a son had been molested in separate childhood incidents, says he doesn't mind opposition, but he wants his adversaries to tell the truth.

"Such actions clearly cross the line of the law," he said in a letter to Malkiewich.

Brothel tour

Assembly Taxation Chairman Bob Price, D-North Las Vegas, has already signed up 15 legislators and spouses for an April 22 tour of the Mustang Ranch brothel.

"It's a fact-finding mission," Price said. He said some counties receive 30 percent of their budget from brothel taxes.

During the 1995 session, Price led a similar tour of the Mustang Ranch, located 13 miles east of Reno. It was once owned by Joe Conforte, a controversial figure who fled the country after being charged with tax evasion.

"That was my first official tour," Price said of the 1995 visit. He said lawmakers were fed a special meal that was "as good as Adele's," a swank restaurant popular among politicians and lobbyists.

Under normal circumstances, women who don't work in brothels aren't allowed inside. Price said the tour allows all legislators a chance to understand brothel operations. He has worked with former prostitute Jessi Winchester, an unsuccessful 1996 congressional candidate, to improve working conditions.

In past sessions, some legislators have introduced bills to outlaw brothels, but nothing has surfaced this year.

Republicans hold lead

Republicans still lead in the number of registered voters statewide, but new figures from the secretary of state's office indicate the gap is closing.

According to March numbers, there are 337,299 Republicans in Nevada and 335,380 Democrats, or a GOP lead of 1,919. In February, Republicans held an advantage of 2,405 voters.

The total number of registered voters in Nevada is 802,287. Nonpartisans represent the third largest group, at 108,753.

In Clark County, Democrats lead by 30,600 voters. Only four other counties, out of 17 statewide, have more Democrats than Republicans. They are White Pine, Nye, Mineral and Lincoln counties.