Hollywood producer plans GOP run for Nevada governor

Thursday, May 8, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A Hollywood producer who formed his own political party in California and registered to vote in Nevada two weeks ago plans to announce Saturday he's a Republican candidate for governor.

With typical showbiz bravado, Aaron Russo said Wednesday that his campaign is "unstoppable."

His campaign manager was scheduled to be longtime Republican political operative Lyn Nofziger and his press secretary is Pierre Salinger, President Kennedy's press secretary and a longtime ABC television newsman.

Russo, 54, who produced "The Rose" (1979) and "Trading Places" (1983) among other films, moved to Nevada in September for the "practical reason" he believes he can win election in this state. His theme: "Keep the federal government out of people's lives."

He said he supports Salinger's much-derided belief that TWA Flight 800 was shot down by a U.S. military missile off Long Island, N.Y. And he doesn't think Salinger lost his credibility as a result, although federal investigators have discounted the theory.

Russo acknowledged he only met Salinger last week. Salinger was in Carson City to lay groundwork for the campaign.

Nofziger, who served in the Nixon and Reagan administrations, may bow out as campaign manager because of his wife's illness, Russo said.

Kenny Guinn, a longtime public figure and businessman in Southern Nevada, is in the race for the GOP nomination for governor. But Russo said: "I don't believe I'm the underdog. Kenny has been anointed by a few people in the party, and I respect Kenny. But he has no support from the rank and file."

Russo's spending his own money now but "people are pledging money," he said. "I'm getting letters from thousands of people."

He may buck a trend. Nevada's governors for at least the last 40 years have a tradition of public service before being elected.

Nevadans have an independent spirit and an attitude "of live and let live," Russo said.

He opposes a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain and is looking to put an initiative on the ballot to prohibit the dumping of radioactive waste in Southern Nevada. He has hired National Voter Outreach to research the subject.

The Carson City firm wrote and gathered signatures for term limits for U.S. senators and representatives on the 1996 Nevada ballot. Coy Flynn, a member of National Voter Outreach, said Salinger will be flying to Reno on Friday for the Saturday night announcement.

Richard Arnold, National Voter Outreach chief executive officer, ran for Congress on the Libertarian ticket in California, Flynn said. Also, Sandy Rizzo, founder of the Green Party in Nevada, is working as a volunteer for Russo.

"I looked into his heart and eyes, and he's very sincere," said Rizzo, who emphasizes she, and not the Green Party, is behind Russo.

"He's against nuclear waste totally and that's why I'm for him," said Rizzo, a part-time Northwest Airlines worker.

Russo said he's against such things as federal agents tapping phones and he wants to stop federal identification cards. "Even though these are federal issues, no one will stand up."

Guinn and Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, an expected Democratic candidate for governor, also oppose the nuclear waste dump.

Russo started in the 1960s as a rock promoter for groups such as the Who, Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead. He said he founded and managed the Manhattan Transfer.

He served as manager for entertainer Bette Midler for seven years and was her lover for a time, according to a 1994 story in the Los Angeles Times. A 1972 Midler album, "The Baron With Love," is dedicated to him.

The Times story also said Russo's political juices started to flow and his philosophy against big government grew after the Branch Davidian incident in Waco, Texas.

In 1994, he formed the Constitution Party in California. He said he moved to Nevada in September and records show he registered to vote in Reno two weeks ago. He lives in the rural Palomino Valley north of Reno.

His announcement Saturday will be "one of the biggest political events in the history" in Nevada, he said.