Bush to visit Lake Tahoe area

Friday, May 12, 2000 | 11:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Texas Gov. George W. Bush will soon be taking his campaign for president to Nevada but not to the Democratic stronghold of Las Vegas. Instead, he will mingle in the friendly Republican confines of Northern Nevada.

A spokesman for the front-running Republican presidential nominee said everything is tentative, but GOP sources in Nevada said Bush will be at Lake Tahoe on June 1 for a fund-raiser and to give an address on the environment.

Scott McClellan, a spokesman for Bush, said, "The governor is looking forward to coming to Nevada in the near future. But we're still finalizing our plans."

According to the sources, who asked not to be named, there would be a $1,000-a-plate affair to be held in a facility owned by Larry Ruvo, senior managing director of Southern Wine and Spirits of Nevada.

A spokeswoman for Ruvo confirmed the date but said Gov. Kenny Guinn is hosting the event at the exclusive community of Glenbrook.

A spokesman for Guinn confirmed today the Bush visit and said, "We're very happy about it."

There have been several tentative dates in the past for Bush to visit Lake Tahoe but they have all been canceled.

If the event comes off, Bush would be landing in the heart of Republicanism in Nevada. In the three Nevada counties that border Lake Tahoe, the GOP outnumbers the Democrats by more than 25,000 registered voters. In contrast, Democrats hold the majority in Clark County.

Ruvo and property owner partner Harvey Whittemore were the center of a controversy in the 1999 Legislature over their holdings at Glenbrook.

They sought to build a pier at the lake, a project that was strongly opposed by other homeowners in the area of the wealthy development. The controversy was nicknamed "Piergate," and Ruvo and Whittemore lost their battle.

A compromise was reached later.