No shortage of contenders for Bryan’s Senate seat

Brendan Riley

Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999 | 4:35 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- U.S. Sen. Richard Bryan's surprise word he's not seeking a third term moved some to tears Thursday - and, no doubt, tears of joy for Nevada politicians who have been eyeing his seat.

The decision by Bryan, a Democrat and one of the state's top political figures, clears the path for several contenders from both parties - including a few who have said privately there's no way they would have run against him.

Nobody has actually announced plans to run for the U.S. Senate seat, but there's a list of likely prospects that includes at least three Democrats and three Republicans.

Among the Democrats, there's Bob Miller, who just ended a record 10 years as a well-liked Nevada governor and joined a prominent law firm. Miller's long public service career also included a term as lieutenant governor.

Asked if he'd run for Bryan's seat, Miller said, "I'm still in a state of shock that he's not running, and it's something that I have not considered doing. It potentially affects six years of my life, and it would mean relocating my family."

"I certainly will give it serious consideration," he added. "But I have no thoughts at this time on what I would do."

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, just elected to a third four-year term, is another Democratic prospect. She made a preliminary run for governor last year but then withdrew in the face of formidable fund-raising efforts by the eventual winner, GOP Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones, who just announced she won't seek re-election, is another likely Democrat. She was the Democratic nominee for governor last year, and unsuccessfully challenged Miller in the Democratic gubernatorial primary four years earlier.

Among the Republicans, former Rep. John Ensign has to be at the top of the list. Last November he lost a hard-fought, multi-million-dollar race to Democratic Sen. Harry Reid by only 428 votes out of about 415,000 cast - a tenth of 1 percent.

Ensign said he was considering a run against Bryan anyway "and I was going to make my decision in May or June. This dramatically moves up that decision date. It completely changes everything."

"I am taking a very serious look at it," he added. "I will talk with my family and my friends, and do some praying about it."

What if a victory in 2000 allows him to serve with the man who beat him in 1998? "I don't think that would be any problem," Ensign said. "But it would be funny, very ironic."

Also on the GOP list is state Sen. Mark James of Las Vegas, who considered a bid for statewide office last year before opting for re-election. His name also was circulating as a possible U.S. Senate contender before Bryan's announcement.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., is another likely prospect, although Bryan said Tuesday after speaking to state lawmakers that Gibbons had told him he wouldn't run for the Senate. Gibbons easily won re-election last year.