Berkley, Chairez to face off in November congressional race

Martin Kuz

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1998 | 1:54 a.m.

Tuesday's primary results determined that Democrat Shelley Berkley will face off against Republican Don Chairez in the District 1 congressional race Nov. 3. Still left unanswered is what impact gaming impresario Sheldon Adelson will have on the election.

The Democratic primary saw Berkley, an eight-year member of the University and Community College System of Nevada Board of Regents, capture 81 percent of votes cast in trouncing casino worker Clay Baty.

Former District Court Judge Chairez easily outdistanced the rest of the Republican field, besting Prime Cable advertising executive Esther Quisenberry and Regent Nancy Price. Chairez garnered 42 percent of the vote compared to Quisenberry's 21 percent and Price's 9 percent.

The winner between Berkley and Chairez will succeed Republican U.S. Rep. John Ensign, who is vacating his seat to challenge Democratic Sen. Harry Reid. The District 1 race has garnered close scrutiny from the national Democratic and Republican parties. With the GOP holding a 228-206 edge in Congress, Democrats are eager to seize upon Ensign's departure to narrow the gap.

Closer to home, the campaign also has attracted Adelson's interest. The Las Vegas Sands Inc. chairman, who fired Berkley last year as his vice president of government relations, has donated thousands of dollars to Chairez.

Adelson turned up at Chairez's victory party Tuesday evening at the North Beach Cafe. He refused to comment on the campaign, but the bear hug he gave Chairez seemed to indicate Adelson is taking a hands-on approach.

"It's like a baseball team," Chairez said in discussing Adelson's presence in the campaign. "He's one of nine players on the field... He's a factor."

The paths of Adelson and Berkley crossed again earlier this year, when a tape recording of a conversation Berkley had with a friend surfaced. On the tape, Berkley discussed ways to persuade Adelson to use his power to do favors for Clark County Commissioners Yvonne Atkinson Gates and Erin Kenny, ostensibly to grease the way for construction of his Venetian megaresort.

In addition, in private memos Berkley wrote to Adelson in 1996, she encouraged him to pump money into the campaigns of local judges, hinting that they would provide favors in return. Adelson fired off a written response criticizing her for the suggestion.

Aware that her comments could be used against her during the next two months, Berkley said she intends to run an issue-oriented campaign and predicted that a strategy of personal attacks would backfire.

"I believe voters want a meaningful discussion of issues that effect them and will not stand for unnecessary and unwarranted character assassinations," she said.

Berkley appeared at the victory party of Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Rose McKinney-James, where Gov. Bob Miller also was in attendance. Referring to Berkley's penchant for speaking her mind, Miller said she would waste no time in making a name for herself in Washington, D.C., if elected.

"I can tell you with absolute certainty that within a month, everyone in Congress will know Shelley Berkley. And the one thing they'll know about her is that she does not take 'no' for an answer," Miller said.

Like his opponent, Chairez said he wants to keep his campaign trained on issues, and he declined to speculate whether he would call voters' attention to Berkley's controversial comments. But he said the Republican National Committee plans to air television ads that question whether Berkley is fit to represent Nevada.

For his part, Chairez may have to endure questions on why he waffled over his decision to run. Torn between remaining on the bench to preside over the Jeremy Strohmeyer murder trial and seeking the congressional seat, Chairez waited until 15 minutes before the 5 p.m. deadline May 18 to file his candidacy.

Asked if he had any second thoughts about his choice, Chairez paused before answering. "That trial will be over and done with in six, seven weeks. If I'm elected to Congress, I can serve the people of Southern Nevada for several terms."