Columnist Jeff German: Governors conference will put Las Vegas in the limelight

Tuesday, June 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

SERIOUS SOCIAL and economic issues will be discussed next month when the nation's governors converge on Las Vegas for their annual meeting.

But the first-ever conference in Las Vegas, which takes place July 27-30, also will be a time to showcase the City of Glitz around the country.

Even President Clinton plans to be on hand at some point for the prestigious 89th annual meeting of the National Governors' Association, chaired by our own Gov. Bob Miller.

Presidents generally use the gathering to deliver a major domestic policy speech.

Miller worked hard to persuade the governors to meet in Las Vegas. He knew it would put the city in the mainstream of national politics.

In a news release, Miller press secretary Richard Urey calls the NGA conference one of the "most important forums in American political leadership today."

That means a lot of national press will be in town to give Las Vegas more than enough exposure.

Miller has seen to it that his colleagues will be getting the royal treatment here.

The Mirage has drawn the plum assignment of hosting the governors. A star-studded evening of entertainment, featuring Gladys Knight, the Righteous Brothers and the Four Tops, is planned for one evening at the Strip resort.

Another night, the governors will be treated to a Las Vegas-style bash at the downtown Fremont Street Experience.

But amid the festivities and the serious discussions, the NGA annual meeting may bring attention to another subject dear to the hearts of Las Vegans -- the merits of legalized gambling.

The topic is likely to be too good for the national media covering the event to pass up.

These are times when the casino industry finds itself under intense scrutiny in Washington and across the country.

By the end of July, the National Gambling Impact Study Commission will be in high gear, and the nation's attention once more will be focused on Nevada's chief industry.

It's true the NGA conference will provide lots of free publicity for Las Vegas. But it also may bring out the city's critics.

* Mystery surrounds the abrupt decision by Clark County GOP Chairman Jerry Winkler not to seek re-election.

And Winkler isn't shedding any light on the subject.

The GOP boss, locked in a war of words with state Republican Party Chairman John Mason, sent a letter Sunday to about 900 members of the county party announcing he was bowing out of the July 15 election.

In the letter, Winkler, a transplanted New Yorker, says he has been able to rebuild the county party in just a couple of years.

But he adds: "As you know, there are those who do not want us to achieve our goal. They hope to defeat us by attacking me. They mistakenly think that by attacking me, they will be able to stop us. In their blindness, brought on by their self-serving agenda, they do not understand what I know."

Winkler won't elaborate, saying only he feel's it's time for him to step aside.

He says he's endorsing Jenny Sartin, who's running in his place, and he expects she'll win.

Sartin, however, is going up against taxicab mogul Milton Schwartz, who has acknowledged that Mason asked him to run for the county leadership post.

Schwartz, a longtime GOP regular and fund-raiser with many party contacts, says Winkler's departure is good for the party.

"I think it's time for a change," he says. "That's why I'm running."

Schwartz says he isn't impressed with Winkler's letter.

"He sees enemies under every rock," Schwartz says. "We hope that after this election there will be a healing and a unification in the party rather than this kind of language, which is not helpful."

* Former City Councilman Al Levy will be missed by his many friends, especially his regular lunch crowd.

Friends knew the 63-year-old Levy had a history of heart problems and didn't take the best care of himself.

Still, his untimely death over the weekend was hard to take for the likes of ex-Mayor Ron Lurie, restaurateur Freddie Glusman and many others.

Levy, a former two-term city councilman, was as nice a guy as anyone could find.

He had a true love for Las Vegas. Take care, Al.