Columnist Jeff German: County Republican Party in post-election turmoil

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998 | 11:38 a.m.

Nevada Republicans are witnessing more foolishness within their ranks. And wouldn't you know it, GOP maverick Aaron Russo is among those in the middle of the latest mess.

Earlier this year, you'll recall, Russo forces aborted a campaign to recall Nevada Republican Party boss John Mason. Now, they're said to be working to overthrow Clark County GOP Chairman Milton Schwartz.

George Harris, a deposed former party finance chairman, also is participating in the coup attempt. So is GOP dissident Tony Dane, who has sent out a letter to county Republicans criticizing Schwartz.

Harris has been a political consultant to casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, but Adelson's top man in Las Vegas, Bill Weidner, says his boss is staying out of the party fight.

Russo acknowledges his supporters are involved in the recall, but he says he's staying neutral, too. Well, sort of neutral.

"I'm not actively campaigning to take Milton Schwartz out, even though I don't think he's very good at what he does," Russo says.

Russo also doesn't have a high opinion of Harris. He says he's telling his supporters to back anyone but Harris as a potential Schwartz successor.

Schwartz, meanwhile, says he doesn't believe the attempt to recall him will succeed and doesn't expect to give up the party reins until his two-year term expires in July.

"They'd like me to resign, but I'm not quitting," he says.

The Republican cry-babies are blaming Schwartz for Rep. John Ensign's failure to defeat Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in one of the closest Senate races ever in Nevada. But Schwartz critics forget that Schwartz helped elect the first Republican governor, Kenny Guinn, in 20 years.

One well-known Republican, Charles Muth, has a good handle on the latest party brouhaha.

"As a former Clark County chairman myself, I know the difficulties and frustrations of running this huge organization -- which is peppered with obstructionists, malcontents and even a few certifiable kooks," Muth writes in a response to the rebels.

"If any of the coup supporters think they can do a better job, by all means they should run for the office in July. In the meantime, let's give Chairman Schwartz the support he has earned and deserves and get back to the real business of the Clark County Central Committee."

Muth points out that the Schwartz detractors don't exactly have winning records.

Russo ran a "high-budget, scorched earth campaign" against Guinn and got crushed in the governor's race, Muth writes. Then the Hollywood producer backed Democrat Jan Laverty Jones in the general election, and she lost. Russo also endorsed three Republican losers this year -- Ensign, Don Chairez and Scott Scherer.

As for Harris, Muth accuses him of blowing a slew of political campaigns for Adelson.

Harris, Muth says, mismanaged the paycheck protection initiative against organized labor and two failed bids to recall County Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates. Harris also squandered $2 million of Adelson's money in an unsuccessful last-minute television blitz to defeat three County Commission candidates. And he was unable to stop fired Adelson aide Shelley Berkley from getting elected to Congress.

Adds Muth: "If we as a party ever started spending as much time and effort defeating Democrats as we do beating up each other, we'd be able to dramatically change this county in just one election."

It's strange that John Ensign ended up working out of the Capitol Hill office of Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, last week when preparing for the Clinton impeachment vote.

Cannon has since been tabbed to serve as one of 13 managers on the House prosecution team during the Senate trial.

Ensign, who no longer has his own office, passed up an offer of help from Nevada Rep. Jim Gibbons.

The decision to take up quarters within Cannon's confines probably had something to do with Ensign's former chief of staff, Mark Emerson, who now works for Cannon.

Still, someone more sensitive than Gibbons might be offended by Ensign's lack of loyalty to his Nevada colleague.

Texas Gov. George W. Bush has been lining up support in Nevada for his expected race for president in 2000.

Kenny Guinn is prepared to chair Bush's Nevada campaign, and Jim Gibbons has agreed to serve on his national committee.

Political consultant Sig Rogich, a White House aide to Bush's father, also is being pressured to play a role as a national campaign strategist for George W.

We can look forward to a more colorful mayor's race in 1999 if Aaron Russo runs.

Russo says he interested in the job, but won't take the plunge if Jan Jones seeks re-election.

He says he's also eyeing a race against Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., in 2000.