Where I Stand: ‘The Odd Couple’ hit the re-election campaign trail

Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

POLITICS, THEY SAY, make strange bedfellows.

None stranger, perhaps, than the Jan Jones-Matt Callister alliance.

A perfect title for their mutual admiration society might be "The Odd Couple."

The latest buzz on this unlikely partnership is the fund-raising bash the mayor is throwing for Councilman Callister's re-election campaign. It's to be held this Thursday at Mayor Jones' posh home.

The affair is by invitation only. The only catch to an otherwise pleasant evening is that you are expected to toss $500 into the kitty.

Former County Commissioner Paul Christensen is not expected to attend.

Politically, most pundits agree that Sen. Mike Schneider might have put his foot in his mouth big time when he asked the FBI to investigate alleged corruption by staff and officials in the city of Henderson.

Schneider doesn't even represent the district in which Henderson is located.

Observers concur that Sen. Schneider had the interests of a close friend in mind when he stepped in where angels fear to tread. He needs to be reminded that the quality of friendship can be strained.

Next week the state Ethics Commission will rule on whether UNR Professor Howard Rosenberg has a conflict of interest serving as an elected member of the Board of Regents.

If the commissioners rule against him, Rosenberg is sure to ask some difficult questions about teachers on the Board of Education, police officers on the Las Vegas City Council and Clark County Commission, and dozens of public employees serving in the state Legislature where they are voting on matters directly concerning their fields of employment.

Rosenberg's attorney has stated unequivocally that should the professor be told to give up his job or the elected office, they are "on our way to court."

For many years Pat Shalmy has been the safety net for the County Commission. His knowledge and expertise have been of inestimable value to elected officials who must rely on staff for information and implementation of their wishes.

In such a high-profile job, Shalmy has made friends and foes, but it would be highly unlikely that anyone would question his dedication and ability.

As one who likes and respects Pat Shalmy, I wish him the very best. At the same time, I would hope there is a Shalmy clone waiting a call to the top administrative post in the county.

A friend and fellow Rebel basketball fan has a pet peeve.

He is intellectually offended by the logo on the front of the UNLV cheerleaders' uniforms. The logo reads, Rebel's. The apostrophe is incorrect.

Unfortunately, my eyesight is not that of a 20-year old and I didn't see the offending apostrophe, although I agree with my friend that it doesn't belong there and makes us look like "ignorant clods."

He pleads: "Please get the abominable apostrophe removed."

One of the best-kept secrets in town is BEST (Bringing Everybody's Strengths Together).

If it hadn't been for Family and Youth Services' Tom Maroney, I would have been ignorant of the wonderful programs BEST supervises for our community.

Just what is BEST? Space does not allow a complete explanation of the program, but generally it is a communitywide coalition that develops and coordinates strategies to prevent alcohol and other drug use by the youth of Clark County.

BEST provides technical support, training, materials and prevention ideas to schools and other organizations.

It is a way for everyone to get involved to provide a safe and healthy environment for youth.

BEST accomplishes its goals through parent networking, teacher training, family resource centers and a drug abuse clearinghouse where a complete library of materials including books, videos, posters, magazines and other informational materials are available. The library is located at the Center for Independent Living, 1417 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

The best thing about BEST is that it is a community effort involving schools, businesses, government entities and other organizations with the same goals.

How can you get involved? Call BEST Campaign for a Drug Free Community at 799-1133.

Listening to all the talk about balancing the budget reminds me of the story of the fellow who cut off a 12-inch strip from the end of the rug and sewed it onto the other end to make it longer.