Judge retains election plans despite heart transplant

Jace Radke

Thursday, June 11, 1998 | 11:16 a.m.

Running for public office is usually considered a time consuming and busy undertaking. Throw in a heart transplant operation as the primary race starts to heat up and one might wonder if staying in politics is practical let alone possible.

But for Clark County Family Court Judge Gary Redmon, ending his bid for District Court judge was never an option. Redmon is feeling better according to friends after a successful heart transplant operation last week.

"He is feeling great and expects to leave the hospital this week," Dan Geary, a Redmon campaign spokesman, said. "He is one of the most tenacious individuals that I have ever met and he is excited to get back to work."

Redmon, who has had a history of heart problems, waited a year for a donor to become available. He received his new heart during a 2 1/2 hour operation performed at the UCLA Cardio-Myopathy Center in Los Angeles.

Redmon could not be reached for comment, but Billy Prevetti, another Redmon campaign spokesman, said, "you can bet he's getting antsy in that hospital. Five days after the operation he is already up and about."

The judge is expected to be released from the hospital this weekend, but will stay close to the medical center for another two to three weeks in order to undergo tests to ensure that there are no aftereffects to the operation.

According to Redmon's wife, Betty, if the rehabilitation goes as planned, they will return to Las Vegas in early July with Redmon resuming work shortly thereafter.

"He has a passion for being a judge," Prevetti said. "He loves it and nothing has changed his desire to be a judge."

Redmon, who was elected to Family Court in 1997, decided to run for one of three new general District Court judge openings because he wants more variety in his work, Prevetti said.

"Before he was a judge he served as a deputy district attorney and a special prosecutor," Prevetti said. "He enjoyed his time in Family Court but missed the diversity that criminal law brought him."

Geary said he is not worried about the judge's ability to effectively campaign despite his operation and pointed to Redmon's 1997 campaign as an example.

"He had problems with his heart during the last campaign," Geary said. "He would go through a bad spell, but the next day he would be up and out at Cashman Field talking to people before they went in to watch the game. He used a low-budget, grass-roots campaign very effectively and there is no reason to think that he can't do it again."

Redmon's transplant was held up because of the lack of donors, according to Geary.

"We are very happy that the donor came through and we send our respects to the family," Geary said. "When a public figure goes through something like this hopefully it will heighten the public's awareness that becoming an organ donor is important."