Goodman, Stupak: No phone connection

Erin Neff

Tuesday, May 18, 1999 | 12:01 p.m.

Oscar Goodman thrives on the national media attention his mayoral candidacy draws, but he took offense this weekend when he learned someone was calling voters using his name to endorse political upstart Nevada Stupak.

Goodman and his campaign deny any affiliation with the 23-year-old Stupak's bid to oust incumbent Gary Reese from his Ward 3 City Council seat.

The recorded phone message from a group calling itself Committee for Better Government reportedly said Goodman was endorsing Stupak.

When Goodman's campaign staffers learned of the calls Saturday morning, they called Stupak, who denied any involvement with the recorded message.

"I have no idea where those came from," Stupak said. "I have no idea."

The calls continued through the weekend without Goodman's approval or knowledge, Goodman's campaign spokesman Mark Fierro said.

On Monday morning Goodman phoned Reese to explain he had nothing to do with the calls.

"We had a very constructive conversation," Goodman said. "He knows with 100 percent, absolute certainty that I have no role in the calls nor is my name being used in this connection with permission."

Reese said he believes Goodman's campaign will "take care of it," adding he thinks Goodman's campaign may know who is behind the calls.

"He's just as mad about it as I am," Reese said. "This is the part nobody likes."

Fierro denied anyone in his campaign knew who had made the calls.

Stupak surprised the local political establishment May 4 when he earned enough votes in the primary to force a run-off with Reese despite raising just $11,000 to Reese's $323,000. Reese still won the primary easily with 45 percent of the vote to Stupak's 28 percent with four other men in the race.

Some view Stupak's success May 4 as a direct result of the anti-incumbent mood Goodman's supporters brought with them to the polls. Goodman is running against 12-year City Councilman Arnie Adamsen.

Stupak said Monday he is not yet certain whether he will attend Wednesday's scheduled Ward 3 debate with Reese. That debate, sponsored by the Paradise Democratic Club, will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Culinary Training Center in the Days Inn hotel on East Fremont Street.

"Right now I'm just in the middle of walking the ward and talking to voters," Stupak said. "I'm not sure yet about (the debate)."