Bernstein looks like early labor favorite

David Strow

Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1999 | 11:22 a.m.

Nevada's unions know that if they're going to maintain their political power, they have to do it in 2000.

"Republican right-wingers and corporate forces continue to believe that organized labor is on the ropes," said Mark Splain, western regional director of the AFL-CIO. "There is no way to turn the country to the high road unless we strengthen our political voice."

In 2000, a Nevada U.S. Senate seat now held by union ally Richard Bryan will be up for grabs. The Democrats will be attempting to hold onto a slim seven-seat majority in the State Assembly.

And, perhaps most importantly, the state Legislature will redraw the state's political districts in 2001. Whichever party controls the Legislature at that time will be able to draw districts -- including the state's newest congressional district -- in a fashion that favors its candidates. The next reapportionment won't be until 2011.

Democratic politicians tried to hammer that home at this week's convention of the Nevada AFL-CIO.

"This is the election that determines what will happen in Nevada ... that could set the pattern for the next decade," Bryan told union representatives. "Some elections are more important than others."

But the Nevada AFL-CIO, which represents 150,000 in Nevada, has yet to identify who it will be backing for Bryan's seat. It has been in talks with a number of its allies -- including Las Vegas attorney Ed Bernstein -- but top AFL-CIO officials say they won't make any endorsements until early next year. In fact, it appears unlikely the union will endorse anyone until after the primaries, for fear of alienating any potentially friendly candidates.

"Contrary to what people think, one person doesn't say who we'll endorse," said AFL-CIO Executive Secretary-Treasurer Danny Thompson. "Until after (candidate) filing closes, you can't really say who the best candidate is."

But, he added, "when we endorse someone, we'll put our money where our mouth is."

The most serious union efforts appear aimed at Bernstein, who has represented numerous union members in workers' compensation and workplace injury cases. Bernstein was encouraged by union officials at the convention to run, and was invited by the union to speak on the floor, where he received a standing ovation. But Bernstein has yet to declare his candidacy for the Senate seat.

Still, AFL-CIO President Walt Elliot said the union isn't prepared to move without a two-thirds majority of its members.

"Some candidates who we would be in favor of haven't declared their candidacy yet, and that puts us in a quandary," Elliot said. "We have to see the feeling of the majority of the local (unions) ... as to the leaders they want politically.

"Two-thirds of the delegates are needed to make an endorsement, but we'd like to go with 100 percent support. Otherwise we could have union money fighting union money."

At least one state politician, Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, is already pushing the union to go with Bernstein.

"We need to rally around Ed Bernstein ... because he will fight for the little man more than anyone else in the Senate," Titus said. "It's our pair of aces, (U.S. Rep. Shelley) Berkley and Bernstein, that are going to win the hand."

Richard Perkins, majority leader of the state assembly, pleaded with union leaders to get behind the Democratic party in 2000.

"The state Assembly is our last line of defense on labor issues, and that is a target (for Republicans) in the next campaign," Perkins said. "If we lose control of the state Assembly, can you imagine the issues we'll face in the next 10 years?" he asked, saying that unions would lose ground on issues such as minimum wage and collective bargaining rights.

"We need to stick together. Help us to help you."

Even Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn, labeled as the opposition by numerous other Democratic politicians before him, tried to curry political points with the AFL-CIO.

"I want a summit," Guinn said. "I want to hear what you have to say ... it doesn't matter that we don't agree on every little thing.

"I can almost always tell who voted for me and who didn't ... for those of you who didn't, I'm going to work so far and so well for you that you're going to wish you had voted for me."

Secretary of State Dean Heller, who has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO in the past, was the only other GOP official to address the convention.

Without plans to endorse candidates early, union officials are instead focusing their efforts at this time on registering their members to vote. Thompson said registration efforts began three weeks ago.

"That's not in high gear, but it's getting that way," Thompson said. "We are looking at every member, checking their registration."

Thompson and other union officials say they don't have the financial firepower of their opponents, so organizing the rank and file will be critical. Each local union was encouraged to identify political activists within the union, to organize other members in political campaigning.

But even after it has organized and made its political picks, Thompson said the union will not promote one candidate over another to its members. Instead, he plans to present candidate views side by side, and let individual members make their own decisions.

"People don't like to be told what to do," Thompson said.

Even at this early stage, union officials say they're gaining confidence from the experience of 1998, when U.S. Sen. Harry Reid won re-election by only a few hundred votes in his re-election campaign. Both Reid and union officials say labor votes made the difference.

"(Unions) heartily support being successful once again in the electoral process," Elliot said. "Once they become aware that their votes do count ... that will snowball."