SUNlight on politics: Wynn gets a win on Tahoe board

Larry Henry and Cy Ryan

Friday, Feb. 7, 1997 | 5:26 a.m.

MIRAGE Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn is extending his clout into Carson City politics.

Wynn, who owns a beachfront residence at Lake Tahoe, called newly elected Carson City Mayor Ray Masayko to lobby him to reappoint Supervisor Kay Bennett to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

Wynn also serves on the TRPA, which oversees development at Lake Tahoe on the Nevada-California border.

Why is Wynn so high on Bennett?

It might be because she backed his plan to ban Jet Skis at the lake.

Even though he owns powerboats, Wynn has objected to the noise and water pollution that Jet Skis generate. Some environmentalists support his claim.

Wynn's argument suffered a setback, however, when Carson City's newspaper, the Nevada Appeal, published a photo of George Bush riding a Jet Ski in 1995 while visiting Wynn.

Wynn's call to the mayor paid dividends. Bennett, who had opposition, was reappointed.

Hammer time

Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren is joining fellow Republican Bob Seale, Nevada's treasurer, in building a minor kingdom.

As reported here, Seale's been busy trying to add to his role. For instance, he wants the treasurer to appoint the controller, which now is an elective office.

Hammargaren also has gotten in the empire-building business.

When Hammargren took office two years ago, the lieutenant governor's budget was $188,000. If he gets his way, it will balloon to $379,000 in 1999, or a 101 percent increase.

He also wants big raises for his staff. Turnover in the office has been more than 100 percent.

Hammargren is complaining that his salary, $20,000 for the part-time job, is the third-lowest in the nation. Talk is that Hammargren wants to raise it to at least $50,000, and make the job full time.

That would take effect after Hammargren's term ends because the Nevada Constitution prevents pay raises for elected officials in mid-term.

Hammargren has said he will run for governor in 1998, but he may be considering a second term instead.

Crammed classrooms

Before long, Clark County School Superintendent Brian Cram will have a bill introduced asking the Legislature to spend state money on school construction.

Most states build schools, but not Nevada, where that's left up to individual districts, who ask voters for tax hikes to foot the bill.

Cram is worried that voters are getting tired of raising their own taxes, so he wants the state to step up.

Among those who support his view is Sen. Jon Porter, R-Boulder City.

Also, the district's lobbyist, Larry Spitler, is an ex-assemblyman held in high regard among his former colleagues.

Unfortunately for Cram, the state's three most powerful elected officials oppose the idea.

Gov. Bob Miller, Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, and Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, have said the state has no business building schools.

Swamped

Those looking to the Legislature for help in solving Las Vegas' growth problems will have to wait until Northern Nevada gets its due.

An Assembly committee formed this session to study solutions to gridlock, high crime and other problems is saying recent flood damage in the Reno-Carson City area has become the "primary concern."

That comes from a newsletter, Inside Infrastructure, put out by Chairman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas.

Goldwater said the threat of flooding is "foremost in the minds of Nevadans, and is now the primary concern of the newly established Assembly Committee on Infrastructure."

Insiders are saying Dini is beginning to regret forming the committee because Goldwater is under pressure to solve growth in Las Vegas, which some consider a local issue, and which the powerful casino industry wants resolved without their having to pay more taxes.