Columnist Jeff German: Casino industry’s campaign strategy lacks continuity

Thursday, Oct. 16, 1997 | 10:20 a.m.

UNDER SIEGE in Washington, the casino industry has worked hard to bolster its political influence.

Political action committees have been created, a lobbying team has been established, money has been donated to both parties and one casino boss even has played golf with President Clinton.

With the 1998 campaign season fast approaching, hardly a month goes by without a major congressional figure coming to town to raise campaign funds.

Last month, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt was the beneficiary of a fund-raiser at The Mirage.

This week, Sens. Alphonse D'Amato, R-N.Y., and Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., sought gaming's re-election support in separate campaign events at the Las Vegas Hilton.

It's hard to blame the industry for moving to increase its clout. Gaming has serious critics on Capitol Hill looking to limit its expansion and tax its profits.

And it has become clear that the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, chaired by a member of the religious right who's morally opposed to gambling, is not going to be an industry lovefest.

But to many, gaming's political push seems unorganized.

D'Amato isn't necessarily known as a friend of gaming. His visit here was the result of his longstanding ties to Bally's Entertainment Inc. Chairman Arthur Goldberg, who until recently wasn't even a member of the American Gaming Association, the industry's Washington lobby.

Mikulski also doesn't necessarily stand out as an ardent gaming supporter. But she's a good friend of Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, who wants to make sure she stays in the Senate.

The case of Gephardt is just as intriguing.

Though he has maintained strong ties with the Culinary Union, Gephardt was persona non grata at The Mirage only a couple of years ago. At the time, Mirage Resorts boss Steve Wynn was on the warpath against Democrats and the Clinton administration for not being friendly to business or gambling.

Today, Gephardt is a VIP at The Mirage, and Wynn plays golf with the president.

Some see that as another example of how the casino industry lacks continuity in its zeal to increase its influence in Washington.

There's a feeling that money is being wasted and political opportunities missed by this shotgun strategy.

Why hasn't the industry made a greater effort to give money to candidates it can count on being in its corner in Washington?

Why hasn't there been a greater attempt to coordinate the industry's fund-raising activities?

As the battle wages on in Washington, the gaming may need to define a more collective political strategy if it wants to stay ahead of its enemies.

On the Strip, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa is making no secret of her plans to run for governor in 1998.

Del Papa has been soliciting campaign funds the past couple of months from casino bosses.

According to those who've been approached, Del Papa makes a persuasive argument why she's a candidate to be taken seriously in a race against Republican businessman Kenny Guinn.

Of course, Del Papa's pitch isn't hurt by her status as the state's top law enforcement officer and legal adviser to gaming regulators.

Even casino execs determined to see Guinn in the governor's mansion in 1999 know the value of buying insurance to cover their backsides.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, can hardly contain her glee.

She's come up with a solid Democrat to challenge state Sen. Kathy Augustine, R-Las Vegas, next year in her party's bid to regain control of the Senate.

Former newsman Terry Care, who's now a lawyer, says he's going to run against Augustine.

A Las Vegan since 1979, the 50-year-old Care says: "I'm here to stay. I'm no longer an observer."

Augustine is considered vulnerable because she represents a heavily Democratic district.

For Care, once a top-flight reporter for Channel 13, it doesn't hurt that he's part of Stan Hunterton's law firm. Hunterton, a former federal prosecutor, has represented Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn over the years.

State Sen. Bill O'Donnell, R-Las Vegas, meanwhile, may be smelling blood in the water around the county treasurer's office.

O'Donnell is said to be eyeing a race against Treasurer Mark Aston, who's being investigated by the DA's office.

Democrats need just two seats to capture the state Senate.