Columnist Jeff German: Keller riding high on voter popularity

Saturday, Oct. 4, 1997 | 4:13 a.m.

EVERY now and then, a politician comes along with a Teflon coating; no matter how much mud is thrown his way, nothing seems to stick.

Sheriff Jerry Keller, with more than a year to go in his first term, may rank at the top of the Teflon meter.

Though reports of police misconduct have become more frequent, the sheriff's popularity with the voters remains high.

A new political poll by the California-based Evans/McDonough Co. shows Keller has a 74 percent favorable rating, second only to Gov. Bob Miller's 78 percent.

The Metro Police Department itself has an 80 percent favorable rating, according to Evans/McDonough, which has done extensive polling in Nevada in recent years.

The telephone survey of 400 registered Clark County voters was conducted Sept. 10-14. It has a margin of error of 5 percent.

The police department showing is remarkable considering those surveyed ranked crime as the second-most important problem facing Southern Nevada. Uncontrolled growth was far ahead at the top of the list.

Even more amazing, 58 percent of those questioned said they feel less safe on the streets than they did three years ago when Keller was elected.

A whopping 65 percent said the sheriff should be held accountable for the misconduct of his officers.

And yet when voters were asked if the election were held today, 61 percent said they would vote for Keller.

Keller, who insists he hasn't begun to focus on his re-election campaign yet, says he's "thrilled to death" with his high marks in the survey.

"The credit goes to the men and women of Metro," he says. "Their great work in this community is phenomenal."

The sheriff's popularity can't be denied going into next year's election. But one reason for his strong numbers is that the voters right now have no alternative to Keller.

Of the half-dozen potential opponents named in the poll, only Capt. Randy Oaks, who lost to Keller in 1994, had a positive rating anywhere close to Keller.

Oaks received a 48 percent favorable rating, but 46 percent said they had never heard of him.

Former Sheriff Ralph Lamb, who also lost to Keller in 1994, polled a 33 percent positive rating, with 29 percent viewing him in an unfavorable light.

Four others -- Metro Lt. Gary Schofield, ex-homicide Detective Chuck Lee, former FBI Agent George Togliatti and retired narcotics Lt. Bobby Hitt -- had name recognition of only 20 percent or less.

All four would have to spend a ton of money to heighten their profiles in a race with an expected well-financed incumbent.

That Keller remains in high esteem with the voters amid the unflattering news at his department does not surprise veteran political consultant Don Williams, who backed Lamb in 1994.

"Keller has not gone out and altered the rules to let errant policemen off the hook," Williams says. "To him, the law is the law, and the public appreciates that."

Williams says national polls show the public lacks confidence in police departments across the country.

"They like to see that something is happening to the people they're afraid of," he says. "It's a good beginning. It's a good signal to policemen who are coming up that you've got to play by the rules."

Keller's willingness to go after those within his department who break the law may play well with the voters, but some say it's hurting his image with rank-and-file officers.

"People go to work thinking they'll either get a medal or be indicted at the end of the day," says one police insider.

Keller doesn't share that opinion.

He says the high poll results leave little doubt that the majority of the 1,665 cops under his command are happy.

"They wouldn't be working at a quality level if they were demoralized," Keller says. "The cops and the community appreciate it when we address misconduct and criminal behavior when it occurs. We deal only in the facts and not with rumors, innuendos, emotions and opinions."

Many believe the sheriff will need the support of his officers if he wants to be re-elected in 1998.

Historically, the cops have been a good barometer in the sheriff's race. In 1982, for example, Sheriff John McCarthy's inability to gain the support of the troops is believed to have cost him his re-election.

One potential Keller opponent acknowledges that the Evans/McDonough poll shows the sheriff will be more formidable than anticipated.

"If the complaints against Metro aren't sticking to him, then he's going to be a tough candidate," the possible challenger says. "But one poll does not an election make."

Another political adversary isn't prepared to say that Keller's popularity is etched in stone.

"People I have talked to do not feel as safe today as they did three years ago when Keller was elected," the would-be candidate says. "Even though the crime rate is increasing rapidly and police misconduct is all over the news, Keller has not been held responsible.

"If this keeps up, my feeling is that it will catch up to him, and he'll have to answer to the voters."

Keller disagrees.

"I can tell you the streets are safer today than they were a year ago or five years ago," he says.

When the sheriff talks these days, he speaks with the confidence of a politician coated with Teflon.

George Chanos has resigned as general counsel of the Clark County Republican Party.

His resignation comes two weeks after questions about his appointment, pushed by county GOP boss Milton Schwartz, were reported here.

Just prior to Chanos being named the party's legal counsel, Gov. Bob Miller named Chanos' wife, Adriana Escobar Chanos, to the five-member State Taxicab Authority Board.

Some questioned whether the two appointments created the appearance of a conflict of interest for Escobar Chanos since Schwartz runs Yellow-Checker-Star Cab. Co., which is regulated by the Taxicab Authority.

Chanos told Schwartz in a letter last week that he was stepping down to avoid such an appearance for his wife.

"While we both respect and appreciate the fact that we have been encouraged to remain in our respective positions," Chanos wrote, "Adriana and I have worked far too hard to develop our reputations for honesty and integrity, and no position is worth our enduring even the innuendo of impropriety."