Neal tries to forge support at Demo convention

Monday, April 20, 1998 | 9:06 a.m.

"We have two individuals in this state who have decided to wed the two parties together under the banner of gaming," Neal told delegates to the Clark County Democratic Convention on Saturday.

"My campaign is about what we Democrats stand for. That's how we're going to win."

Neal's remarks came a week after fellow Democrats Miller and Bryan declined to endorse Neal because of his refusal to join the fight against a proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Neal has said if the dump is inevitable, the state should negotiate with the federal government for economic benefits in exchange for accepting the waste.

Convention delegates cheered after county Chairman Charlie Waterman scolded Democrats who would disqualify Neal simply because they disagreed with him on one issue.

They also cheered after nearly every speaker called for the defeat of a proposed Republican ballot initiative that could limit the ability of unions to contribute to political campaigns.

Former Assemblyman Danny Thompson, a labor activist, railed against the initiative, which would require unions to obtain written permission from each worker before using paycheck withholdings on political races.

"If ever there was a diabolical scheme, if ever there was a more cruel hoax, it is this," Thompson said. "I have never seen anything as low, as rotten, as un-American as this."

Bryan and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., boasted of the Democratic Party's success nationwide, touting the thriving economy and the balanced budget.

Gubernatorial candidate John Geremia of Laughlin complained that he was being shut out by the news media and asserted his opposition to the waste repository.

Neal and another gubernatorial hopeful, Jim Champagne, also appeared at Saturday's Washoe County Democratic Convention in Reno.

Champagne pledged efforts to keep the nuclear dump out of Nevada and to boost education funding.