Senate candidate rejects retired-millionaire label

Larry Henry

Monday, Jan. 12, 1998 | 10:41 a.m.

You can call him a successful businessman. Or you can call him a /it self-made businessman.

You can even call him an entrepreneur.

But don't call Bruce James a millionaire.

James, who's running for the seat held by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., objects that newspaper reporters describe him as a "retired millionaire" or "a millionaire living at Lake Tahoe."

James' mother says the term /it millionaire makes it seem like reporters have a bias against him.

So James developed a list of 16 alternatives. Among them:

Republican lieutenant governor candidate Jessi Winchester wrote to both Las Vegas daily newspapers last week complaining that reporters describe her as "Jessi Winchester, a former prostitute, ... ."

That phrase, like James' wealth, is true.

Winchester worked in Northern Nevada legal brothels before running unsuccessfully as a Democrat for Congress in 1996. During that election, Winchester, probably hoping to create a buzz, issued a calendar that featured her and other prostitutes in skimpy clothing.

Winchester now says candidates shouldn't be defined by their pasts.

James also is hoping to shape a more positive image for himself. Thus the list of 16 alternative descriptions.

James has moved to Las Vegas, where 62 percent of the state's voters live, after buying a house on Desert Inn Road that belonged to Sahara hotel-casino owner William Bennett. It also is the site of James' campaign headquarters.

James recently met one-on-one there with reporters. While many first-time candidates hate to be pinned down, James was willing to discuss issues at length.

James said the current federal income tax system should be abolished and replaced with a flat-tax rate of 17 percent.

He said he personally opposes abortion but added that the government shouldn't interfere "in that area," a view considered pro-choice, and potentially a divisive issue in the Sept. 1 primary election against Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., who also is running for the Senate.

Ensign strongly opposes abortion and has said he'd support a constitutional ban. That position could to score points with the hard-line Republicans who vote in GOP primaries.

James also was willing to take a jab at his younger primary opponent. Ensign is 39, while James is 55.

"Do you want a guy with gray hair or do you want a guy with brown hair?" James, who is completely gray, asked.

James' summary description probably would irk Ensign, who turns 40 in March and has heavy shades of gray himself.

No word yet on whether Ensign plans to issue a list of alternative descriptions for his hair color.