Union raps Kincaid flier

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

A recent campaign flier sent by Clark County Commissioner Mary Kincaid that pictures a Nevada AFL-CIO executive has further fueled the war between the incumbent and some union members.

Danny Thompson, executive secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, said a photograph of him on the mailer suggests that he, his organization or the Southern Nevada Central Labor Council endorses Kincaid.

Thompson said endorsements are decided by the labor council, and it has not lent its support to either Kincaid or Stephanie Smith, Kincaid's challenger in the Sept. 5 primary election.

Bob Walsh, Kincaid's media advisor, said today that Thompson's accusations are hardly worth addressing. He said Thompson was simply in one of the photographs of union members who have endorsed his candidate.

The flier says "We endorse Mary Kincaid" and lists seven union organizations that have announced their official support.

"The piece was designed to show a long history of support of Mary from the AFL-CIO and in picture form it does that," Walsh said. "This whole thing is a nonissue."

Walsh said Thompson's comments are in line with the Culinary Union's behavior during the campaign.

Culinary members, upset at Kincaid's vote against a union-backed ordinance prohibiting the nonorganized Wal-Mart from opening a full-sized Supercenter, have launched an assault against the incumbent.

Most recently, the union held a rally for Smith and offered a $3,000 raffle prize to any member who visited a "pre-vote check-in area."

"They have tossed up enough red herrings to have a fish fry," Walsh said. "I'm surprised they were able to take time out from their raffle to notice this thing."

Thompson said he was placed in an awkward position because he believes his photograph implies he has endorsed Kincaid.

"I can only assume that the use of my picture, without permission, is an attempt by the Kincaid campaign to make it appear that I personally am supporting her campaign," Thompson said.