Top Republicans huddle over Nevada GOP future

Brendan Riley

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999 | 11:25 a.m.

CARSON CITY - John Mason said today he's reconsidering his plan to step down as state GOP chairman, following a meeting with several top Nevada Republicans including Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Mason said he'll make a final decision next week, adding that the upbeat meeting Tuesday was a big factor in his willingness to think twice about his earlier decision to quit.

Mason met with Guinn, Guinn chief of staff Pete Ernaut, Mike Slanker, the Senate campaign chairman for John Ensign, and Ryan Erwin, executive director of the Nevada Republican Party.

Ernaut said the meeting was set up to ensure a smooth transition if Mason leaves as planned on Oct. 15. The party's central committee would have 60 days to find a replacement, but could act immediately given the pressing need to be organized for the 2000 election season.

Earlier, Guinn had asked Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt to take over temporarily and help the GOP climb out of more than $300,000 in debt.

Mason said there have been questions about his earlier decision to quit, and part of Tuesday's session was to "clear the air" about internal friction. That included a report that he had blamed Guinn and Ensign for the party's poor financial condition. Mason said he never made those remarks.

The state GOP chairman said his initial plan was to quit to devote more time to his law practice at Lake Tahoe to support his family of seven children.

"But I have not made up my mind, nor have I discussed with the governor the idea of not resigning," said Mason. "My inclination today would be to change my mind, but I'm not going to make up my mind for a while."

The GOP leaders all want "a clear understanding of where we're going," he added. "Our main topic yesterday was how to keep the party going forward. The primary is less than a year away and the general just over a year away."

Mason said Ensign, who narrowly lost a U.S. Senate race last year, isn't nervous but "wants to ensure that party operations are smooth and in tandem" with his 2000 Senate race.

Guinn will work hard to promote GOP legislative candidates in 2000, especially Assembly hopefuls, in efforts to ensure a GOP voting edge in both houses when lawmakers deal with reapportionment in the 2001 session, Mason added.

"We've got to shift to the campaign mode and that's where we're at," Mason said.