Adamsen, Goodman woo senior voters

Erin Neff

Thursday, May 20, 1999 | 11:01 a.m.

Las Vegas mayoral candidates Arnie Adamsen and Oscar Goodman spoke Wednesday morning before the local chapter of the National Council on Senior Citizens.

Adamsen concluded his remarks in 9 minutes, saying he had to leave to tape interviews with CNN and ABC for broadcast several weeks from now and wouldn't be joining the seniors "for the desserts I brought."

Goodman's comments, which followed immediately after Adamsen's departure, drew applause, laughter and sporadic comments of, "He's right," from some in the crowd of 75 gathered at the Clark County Library on East Flamingo Road.

Adamsen said he would focus on making Las Vegas safer and pointed to the city's tentative budget that spends 58 percent of its funds on public safety. He did not mention, however, that the budget he approved Tuesday includes a 2 percent property tax hike.

Goodman, however, found the tax increase worthy of mention.

"I was sad to see it yesterday, but taxes were raised again in the city," said Goodman, who has vowed to hold the line on taxes and push for tax parity between the city and county. "The only way that's going to be accomplished is with a strong leader who pushes for a lean budget."

Adamsen said the budget approved Tuesday includes more money for parks and recreation -- which encompasses senior centers.

"I know what it's like to live on a fixed income," Adamsen, 50, said of his youth when he and his siblings were raised by his grandmother after his father's death. "I've eaten enough pancakes in my lifetime to almost never want to eat them again."

Goodman, whose 87-year-old mother back in Philadelphia penned a letter to senior citizens on her son's behalf, said he would welcome seniors to help him if he's elected.

"Seniors don't want handouts. They want to be treated with dignity," Goodman, 59, said, referring to advice he learned from his mother. "I will elicit your cooperation and help."