Jones presses Gore for chance at top party job

Monday, Dec. 14, 1998 | 11:11 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones chatted with Vice President Al Gore over the weekend about her desire to become the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Jones said today she told the vice president she was interested in the position while attending his Christmas party in Washington. Jones and her husband, Richard Schuetz, were among some 100 guests at the party.

"I'd be very good in that job," Jones said today. "The job is basically raising money."

Gore, the leading Democratic contender for president in 2000, is likely to play a key role in selecting the next party boss. He has become good friends with Jones.

The mayor said Gore didn't make any commitment to her. But she added, "He's aware of what's going on."

Another close friend of Gore, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is trying to help Jones land the top party post. Reid now is the Senate's minority whip, the No. 2 position among Democrats in that chamber, and will be a strong position to further Gore's presidential hopes.

Jones also has been invited to the White House's Christmas party on Dec. 22, where she could have another opportunity to lobby for the job being vacated by Steve Grossman.

The mayor said she's received conflicting reports about when the next party chairman will be chosen. A decision could come within a week or two, she said, or as far away as February.

"I'd say it's going to be a while with what's going on in Washington," Jones said.

The impeachment proceedings against President Clinton have been grinding government to a halt in Washington, she said.

Jones, coming off her second failed bid for governor in four years, has given herself another three to four weeks to decide whether she'll run for a third term as mayor.

"I'd be thrilled to do whatever I can for the party, but I have other decisions I have to make," she said.

Jones said she's been getting a lot of pressure to run for re-election since talk surfaced about her interest in the national party job.

Political observers expect City Councilmen Arnie Adamsen and Michael McDonald to run for mayor if Jones bows out. That could be divisive at City Hall.

Rumors, meanwhile, have circulated that the Gore and top Democrats could choose co-chairpersons to run the DNC.

One scenario has both Jones and Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer sharing the top party duties.

Another leading contender is said to be Joe Andrews, chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party.

Jones said it would be good for Nevada to have someone from the West at the helm of the party in Washington.

It also would help advance issues important to women in the country, she said.

There is precedent for a Nevadan to serve in a top party post.

Former Reno attorney Frank Fahrenkopf headed the Republican National Committee during much of the Reagan administration. He now is the gaming industry's top Washington lobbyist.