Columnist Jeff German: Republicans abuzz over upcoming state GOP convention

Tuesday, April 21, 1998 | 10:19 a.m.

THE BUZZ ALREADY has started for this weekend's Nevada Republican Party convention at the Stardust hotel-casino.

Whether the unpredictable Aaron Russo will try to disrupt the convention is on the minds of many.

But there's also word of a campaign to persuade former Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, R-Nev., to run for party chairman against current boss John Mason.

The Mason regime hasn't had great relations with Russo and his gubernatorial opponent, the powerhouse Kenny Guinn.

Russo, you'll recall, after making much noise challenging delegates at last month's county convention, sued the state party over its $150 fee to attend this weekend's GOP gathering.

The well-financed Guinn campaign has been at odds with the state party over its role in pushing a workers rights initiative to inhibit the political activities of organized labor.

Guinn, quietly courting labor's support, has led a contingent of prominent Republicans opposed to the initiative.

Concerns also have been raised that the Mason regime has been vulnerable to influence from outside forces, such as Las Vegas Sands Inc. Chairman Sheldon Adelson, who is at war with the Culinary Union.

There's no word on whether the move to coax the popular Vucanovich into the chairmanship race is a serious one, or just something being circulated to keep Mason off balance.

At the moment, Mason has to be the favorite to win re-election.

But if Vucanovich shows any sign of wanting his job, he'll be in big trouble.

Russo, meanwhile, charges the Guinn campaign is trying to buy delegates this weekend the way it did prior to the county convention.

Last month, Guinn shelled out more than $12,000 paying the $25 county fee for about 450 of his delegates. Then, he declined to address the convention amid the ruckus created by Russo.

Guinn aides say the campaign has offered to pay the $150 state fee for a small number of delegates. But they insist there's no wide-scale effort underway this time.

Russo also contends Guinn is trying to stack Friday's important luncheon with Guinn supporters. Both candidates are scheduled to speak.

Guinn strategists confirm the campaign has bought at least 75 lunch tickets for $25-a-piece so that its volunteers can hear their boss.

They maintain there's nothing sinister about what they're doing. It's common practice in national party politics.

Guinn, it seems, has chosen to spend his money on grass-roots support rather than television ads like Russo.

To Russo, that strategy shows the GOP has become a party of the rich.

But those close to Guinn scoff at that claim, pointing out that Guinn remains 30 points ahead of Russo in the latest Republican poll.

There's still a couple of more days before the convention gets under way. Stay tuned for the next fireworks update.

If Peter Ribaste is looking for a break from state gaming agents, he's going about it the wrong way.

Police now are said to be investigating the reputed underworld figure's role in the roughing up last week of his business partner in an auto dealership.

And that's made gaming agents more determined to press for his nomination to Nevada's Black Book of undesirables banned from casinos.

The state Gaming Control Board will discuss whether to proceed with Ribaste's nomination at next month's meeting.

Another business partner in the dealership with Ribaste left town in hurry several months ago.

And the man who loaned Ribaste $100,000 to buy into the deal lost his gaming license.

Ribaste, recently convicted of tax evasion, is said to have ties to ranking members of the Kansas City mob.

Now that he's put his war with the NCAA behind him, the time is right to induct former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian into the university's hall of fame.

Insiders confirm Tarkanian, in his first year of eligibility, is among those being considered.

The results of the balloting is expected to be disclosed within the next 10 days.

Tarkanian, who guided the Rebels to the 1990 NCAA championship, recently received a $2.5 million check from the NCAA to settle the 25-year legal battle.

Many believe the check is proof the NCAA mounted a vendetta against Tarkanian, who now coaches at Fresno State.