Columnist Jeff German: Jones looks determined to land top Democratic Party post

Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998 | 11:31 a.m.

There's little question now that Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones badly wants to become the Democratic Party's next national chairman.

Two terms as mayor and two failed bids for governor apparently have convinced Jones her future in politics lies outside Nevada government.

On paper, the mayor looks great as a national party boss. She's a woman who is a good speaker and has good fund-raising skills. But the rap on Jones in Washington is that she's not a great manager.

Jones overcame cancer to give Gov.-elect Kenny Guinn a tough race this year. But during the campaign, Guinn hit the mayor hard for what he singled out as her lack of commitment to government.

The Democratic Party is going to need someone with strong management skills in 2000 if it wants to gain more ground on the Republicans.

Still, Jones may have enough clout, especially if Sen. Harry Reid D-Nev., the Democratic Party's new whip in the Senate, uses his considerable influence as promised with Vice President Al Gore.

Jones also has developed a good relationship with Gore, the leading Democratic presidential contender, who's likely to make the choice.

Some believe the mayor may be able to make a good case that her strengths far outweigh her weaknesses for the top party job.

Her eagerness to head to the nation's capital, meanwhile, is sure to intensify the battle between City Councilmen Arnie Adamsen and Michael McDonald to succeed her next year.

We'll get a good idea who looks strong with their colleagues next month, when the City Council meets to hand out key assignments on local boards.

Not surprisingly, the mayor put off a discussion of those assignments this week after her name surfaced as a contender for the national Democratic post.

If they're smart, Adamsen and McDonald will watch their flanks. There's a lot of talk that someone outside the City Council might have the best chance of winning the mayor's job next year.

Former state Sen. Sue Lowden, R-Las Vegas, is the latest well-known name to be bandied about as a possible candidate. She'll have a tough time, however, if her gaming company still is at war with the Culinary Union.

The state Gaming Control Board appears to be losing its patience at the ailing Grant Sawyer State Office Building.

Word is Control Board Chairman Steve DuCharme has included $800,000 in next year's budget request for a possible move from the "sick building" at 555 E. Washington Ave.

But whether the new fiscally conservative governor will approve the move is another story.

Still, the budget request sends a strong message to state health officials to work harder to resolve the problems at the Sawyer Building. The Control Board, which occupies 40,000 square feet, is the largest tenant at the $26 million complex.

Officials believe they have isolated the cause of the sickness there to the buildup of toxic fungi. But they have yet to rid the government center of the pesky growths.

The Control Board moved into the Sawyer Building in April 1995. Since then, dozens of employees have complained of various illnesses.

The early line in the nation's capital has Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., in good shape as he contemplates his 2000 re-election bid.

Washington political pundit Charlie Cook lists Bryan as one of his "probably safe" seats.

Bryan, one of the hardest driven campaigners ever in Nevada, is among 33 Democratic and Republican senators facing the voters in two years.

Ten of the 14 Democrats -- including Dianne Feinstein of California and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts -- are listed with Bryan as expecting easy re-election bids.

After the first of the year, look for Bryan to start solidifying his re-election plans.

One of his first moves likely will be to look for someone loyal to him to head the Democratic Party. That's bad news for current party chief, Paul Henry, who's a Reid man. Reid is likely to fight to save Henry's job.

The Governor's Conference on Travel & Tourism is giving retiring Gov. Bob Miller a high-powered send-off Tuesday at the Bellagio megaresort.

Miller, who's leaving office after 10 years at the helm of the state, is being honored at a gala dinner sponsored by his friends at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. A who's who's of Nevada civic and political leaders is on the dinner committee, and Steve and Elaine Wynn are the hosts.

Efforts were made to persuade President Clinton to attend, but his schedule won't permit it.

In recent months, Miller has traveled the world helping the LVCVA build up its tourism base. That has many thinking the governor would make a fine lobbyist for the industry in Washington after he steps down Jan. 4.

Miller has yet to reveal his plans for the future.