Columnist Jeff German: Callister defeat creates political vacuum at City Hall

Wednesday, June 4, 1997 | 10:33 a.m.

THE WAVE OF anti-incumbency has claimed yet another victim in Southern Nevada politics.

Exit City Councilman Matthew Callister.

By a mere 63 votes, ex-Las Vegas Stars pitcher Larry Brown upset Callister in one of the harder fought races here in years.

Callister joins his cousin, ex-County Commissioner Paul Christensen, as the latest veteran politicos to be tossed out by the voters.

Within the past five years, City Councilman Frank Hawkins and County Commissioners William Pearson, Don Schlesinger, Karen Hayes and Thalia Dondero also have lost re-election bids.

The experts expect the trend to continue, as Southern Nevadans continue to vent frustration over the inability of their elected officials to keep up with the valley's rapid growth.

Ironically, Callister had waged a campaign pledging to force casinos and developers to pay their fair share for growth.

But his own missteps and perceived arrogance proved fatal to his career at City Hall.

Callister's defeat also was a stunning blow to Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, who backed his campaign to the hilt.

Jones appeared in television commercials with Callister and lent him her top political adviser, Dan Hart.

Together, Jones and Callister were a formidable duo who controlled City Hall politics and gave fits to county officials.

There won't be much crying at the Clark County Government Center over the loss of Callister.

Jones, however, may have a few sleepless nights.

With Brown on the City Council, the power could shift to Councilman Arnie Adamsen, who has shied away from a leadership role in the past.

Brown, even though he once ran against Adamsen, is likely to feel more comfortable aligning himself with Adamsen than Jones, who worked so hard against him.

With Callister out of the way, the opportunity for Adamsen to emerge as the the council's leader may be too good to pass up, as he ponders a possible mayoral bid in 1999.

Adamsen quietly has taken freshman Councilmen Michael McDonald and Gary Reese under his wing over the past two years. An alliance with Brown would give Adamsen undisputed control.

Some have suggested Adamsen already has begun to assert himself at City Hall.

Recently, he showed up in Carson City to lobby state lawmakers on the city's behalf -- a sure sign of someone wanting to up his profile.

As for Jones, Callister's loss may indicate her political star is dimming.

Putting it on the line for Callister and losing isn't instilling confidence in her leadership abilities in the eyes of her colleagues.

But never count Jones out. She has a habit of bouncing back from political adversity.

Whether Adamsen becomes the new power broker at City Hall, however, probably will be up to him. The reins seem to be his for the taking.