Wednesday, June 9, 1999 | 11:10 a.m.
Mayor-elect Oscar Goodman is moving quickly to dispel concerns that he'll have a tough time playing the political game at City Hall.
Fresh from his landslide victory, the longtime criminal defense attorney said this morning that he has scheduled individual meetings today with City Manager Virginia Valentine and his three new colleagues on the City Council, Michael McDonald, Gary Reese and Larry Brown.
"I want to shake hands and make sure we're all on the same team," Goodman said.
For Goodman, establishing a good relationship with McDonald, an ex-police officer who was reelected in the primary, may hold the key to a smooth term in office.
McDonald has come out of the election stronger than ever at City Hall. He no longer has longtime nemesis, Councilman Arnie Adamsen, to worry about, and he can claim credit for helping Reese win his narrow re-election over Nevada Stupak. McDonald had lent his top campaign strategists to Reese after the primary.
McDonald also has been able to position former Deputy City Manager Lynette Boggs McDonald (no relation) as the top candidate to succeed Adamsen, who must give up his council seat on June 28 in the wake of his loss to Goodman. Adamsen, a three-term councilman, was gracious in defeat Tuesday night, wishing Goodman well as the city's new ambassador to the world.
Goodman, who described himself as a "consensus builder," said today he was confident he'll work well with McDonald and the rest of the council members aligned with the former cop.
"My whole life I've spent getting along with people," he said. "These fellas are very astute. They want to do what's right for the city, and I don't think we'll have a problem."
McDonald said today he's excited about joining forces with Goodman.
"He'll do just wonderful," he said. "Oscar as a person is just phenomenal. What you see with him is what you get."
McDonald said the thing he likes most about Goodman is that his word is his bond.
At the same time, McDonald made it clear Goodman still is the newcomer at City Hall.
"We have to reach out to each other," McDonald said. "We have to help him get up to speed on the process, and he has to understand where we are as a City Council."
As Goodman embarks on his new job, he appears to be displaying the same exuberance of the campaign.
"I'm going into this with a great deal of energy, and I have an appetite to accomplish something," Goodman said.
His words were echoed by veteran political consultant Don Williams, who played a key role behind the scenes in helping elect Goodman.
"Oscar's not looking to build a fiefdom," Williams said. "He's looking to do the things he said he was going to do during the campaign."
Williams described Goodman as "an expanding gas" ready to fill a political vacuum at City Hall.
"If someone isn't doing something down there, he'll do it," Williams said. "We're going to separate the politicians who serve the power brokers from those who serve the people."
Williams said Goodman likely will lose a political battle or two in the coming months.
"But even if he loses," Williams said, "he's going to make everybody measure up. Everybody's going to have to show their true colors."
Goodman, who earned famed as a lawyer defending some of the nation's most notorious mob figures, began his campaign attacking the political establishment of Las Vegas. But he ended up receiving its support, as his popularity with the voters increased.
This morning, Goodman said one of his first priorities will be to persuade his colleagues to join him in putting together a blue ribbon committee of "brilliant minds" to rejuvenate downtown. Among other things, he wants to lure the think tanks of Silicon Valley to the downtown area.
Goodman also said he'll seek an opinion from City Attorney Brad Jerbic about the best way to approach his campaign promise of seeking higher impact fees on developers. Goodman ultimately will need to persuade the Nevada Legislature to join him in that endeavor.
Also on Goodman's immediate agenda are planned meetings with county commissioners and his fellow mayors in the valley.
"If I'm going to do anything for Las Vegas, I have to speak not only in terms of Las Vegas, but the region," Goodman said. "I have to forge relationships with everybody to make the whole valley sound."
Though he won't have any input in the decision to appoint Adamsen's successor, Goodman is likely to figure heavily in the hunt for two new council members by the end of the year. City voters Tuesday approved a ballot question expanding the council from five to seven members.
Having a larger council could be a plus for Goodman, as he tries to put his stamp on city government. It will give him an opportunity to find allies if his relationship sours with McDonald.
As for the worldwide publicity Goodman's election is creating, Williams doesn't see a downside to it.
"If he does a good job, he has the ability to get more good publicity for Las Vegas than any other elected official," Williams said.
"I want to shake hands and make sure we're all on the same team."Oscar Goodman,ON WORKING WITH CITY COUNCIL
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