Poll shows Goodman in lead; Adamsen, Fine in dead heat

Thursday, April 29, 1999 | 3:55 a.m.

But city councilman Arnie Adamsen, once considered the favorite to win the office, is in a dead heat with developer Mark Fine.

Goodman was favored by 36 percent of poll respondents, Fine by 21 percent and Adamsen by 20 percent.

The poll was conducted by Washington, D.C.-based Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc. for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and KTNV-TV, Channel 13. It questioned 418 registered city voters and had a 5 percentage-point margin of error.

Radio personality Frank La Spina received support from 4 percent, while former Henderson Mayor Cruz Olague, Tom McGowan and Anthony Snowden each received 1 percent. Sixteen percent were undecided.

"The real interesting thing is going to be who makes it to the general election, Fine or Adamsen," said Brad Coker, president of Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc.

"I wouldn't go down to the Strip and bet a lot (on who finishes second)," Coker said. "But I might put a nickel on Fine as the outsider candidate. Running even with a sitting city councilman is a pretty strong showing."

The primary election is Tuesday. If none of the candidates garners 50 percent plus one vote, the top two vote-getters will face off in the June 8 general election.

Coker said he doubts Goodman will top 50 percent and win the election outright on Tuesday.

"I think Fine and Adamsen have enough strength to force this into a runoff," he said.

The poll was welcome news for Fine, whose campaign has been fighting a lack of name recognition with hundreds of thousands of dollars in TV commercials touting his credentials and criticizing Adamsen's background.

"It just shows how far we've come in a short period getting our message out there," said Fine, who helped develop the Summerlin and Green Valley residential areas of Las Vegas and Henderson. "I think there is a clear difference between his tenure for 12 years as a politician vs. my business approach and civic activism."

Adamsen, who for weeks has been calling Fine "a desperate developer who is out of this race," said he was not concerned by the poll conducted Friday through Tuesday.

"I'm in the race, even your numbers show it," he said.

Goodman attributed his strong showing in the poll to an upbeat campaign message and populist appeal. Among other things, the outspoken attorney has called for higher impact fees on developers to pay for roads and parks.

"I'm running a clean, diligent, positive campaign and I think people are delighted a candidate can do that in this political climate," he said.

Hilary Michael Milko and Douglas Opolka are the other two mayoral candidates.