Columnist Jeff German: R&R Advertising scrutinized in bidding war for LVCVA

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999 | 10:51 a.m.

R&R Advertising is on the homestretch of its bid to win another lucrative five-year contract to market Las Vegas.

But will the state's largest and most politically connected advertising firm make it to the finish line without getting banged up?

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has pared down its list of agencies vying for the $27 million-a-year contract to four, including R&R, which has been working for the LVCVA since 1980. The LVCVA meets March 9 to hear presentations from the four companies.

Most expect R&R to prevail next month, but intrigue is mounting in the bidding war, and it's said to be rattling the nerves of R&R President Billy Vassiliadis and his longtime partners at the LVCVA.

The Committee For Fairness, a citizens group funded by Venetian boss Sheldon Adelson, has asked for copies of the billings R&R has submitted to the LVCVA in the last six months.

Adelson's top man in Las Vegas, Venetian President Bill Weidner, says the request for LVCVA records was made by members of the committee, not Adelson or anyone connected to the Venetian.

Weidner says the Venetian doesn't plan to back any of the other three bidders, including Las Vegas adman Joe Merica, who's teaming with national advertising giant Young & Rubicam Inc.

But Weidner adds Adelson remains critical of R&R and the LVCVA for failing to do a better job of promoting the many upscale nongaming experiences (among them shopping and dining) in Las Vegas. The Venetian is expected to attract high-end gamblers and tourists when it opens in April.

At the LVCVA, there's a belief the Committee for Fairness is looking for dirt to derail R&R's bid. But officials don't believe the group will find any in the records.

And despite the efforts of his detractors, Vassiliadis, who's spending $300,000 on his presentation next month, says he's convinced his agency is the best qualified to promote Las Vegas in the new millennium.

He'll believe that even if he gets a nick or two heading into the finish line.

It was a Republican-dominated event, but that didn't stop prominent Democrats from attending Saturday night's inaugural ball at the MGM Grand for Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Among the Democrats paying their respects to the first Republican governor in 16 years were Sens. Harry Reid and Richard Bryan and former Gov. Bob Miller.

Noticeably absent, however, and this wasn't surprising, was Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, Guinn's Democratic opponent last year. Relations between the two have been strained since their bitter campaign.

Without Jones on hand, former County Commissioner Jay Bingham, a Democrat who's looking to unseat the mayor this spring, got a chance to work the room.

So did Kent Oram, the veteran political consultant who'll be running Bingham's campaign. Oram, who's also one of Guinn's strategists, likes Bingham's chances of defeating Jones.

Don't count the mayor out just yet, however. She's said to be lining up bigtime support on the Strip and Fremont Street. Steve Wynn and other casino bosses are expected to back her to the hilt.

If that's true, Bingham, a developer by trade, didn't look worried Saturday night.

Ex-GOP gubernatorial candidate Aaron Russo, meanwhile, plans to give both Jones and Bingham something to think about.

Word is Russo has changed his mind and now is thinking about entering the race. He's putting together an exploratory committee to weigh his chances.

Last month, Russo opted against running after Jones made it clear she was seeking a third term.

Russo, you'll recall, bolted across party lines after the Republican primary and endorsed Jones in the general election.

FBI Director Louis Freeh has selected a new special agent in charge of the Las Vegas FBI office.

Grant Ashley, associate special agent in charge of the San Francisco field office, has been named to succeed Bobby Siller, who retired last month to take a seat on the state Gaming Control Board.

Local favorite Walt Stowe, the No. 2 man in the Las Vegas office, was among those who had been seeking the job.

Ashley is expected to assume his new duties in the next couple of months.