Hammargren seeks GOP chairman post

Tuesday, June 8, 1999 | 6:38 a.m.

Former Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren is making a political comeback in a crowded race for Clark County Republican Party chairman.

Hammargren, who lost to Gov. Kenny Guinn in the Republican primary last September, tops the list of candidates vying to succeed retiring GOP Chairman Milton Schwartz.

Also in the race is former Nevada GOP Chairwoman Marilyn Gubler, a close Hammargren friend, and public relations executive Keith Lynam, who is said to have backing from key members of Guinn's political team.

Chris Grant, a supporter of failed gubernatorial candidate Aaron Russo, is the fourth announced candidate in what is shaping up to be one of the more heated party races in years.

The election takes place in Las Vegas on July 20.

"I think the Republican Party needs to be peacefully put back together so everyone can have their say," Hammargren said Monday from Minnesota, where he was attending a medical conference.

The Las Vegas neurosurgeon is viewed as the front-runner next month because of his name identification with mainstream Republicans and ability to appeal to the strong Russo faction of the party.

"He's well known and well liked by everybody," Chuck Muth, chairman of the Nevada Republican Liberty Caucus said. "He ran a conservative campaign in the primary last year, and I think Republicans will support that in this race."

Hammargren said Guinn told him he would stay neutral. But GOP insiders said some of Guinn's top strategists, including Chief of Staff Pete Ernaut, are backing Lynam.

Ernaut Monday denied he was in Lynam's camp, saying he planned to stay out of the race in keeping with the governor's wishes.

But Lynam hinted that both the governor and Ernaut may come to his aid as the election nears.

"Right now, they're saying what they need to say," Lynam said. "The governor will speak for the governor."

Lynam acknowledged his good friend, Steve Wark, a Guinn grassroots expert and former state party chairman, is helping him.

"We've put a lot of work into this, and we've got a lot of strong support," Lynam said. "We've got the best grassroots guy in the country on this."