Nevada Democrats see future in Herrera

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Nov. 10, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

Leaning back at the Sporting House and still aching from a bruising flag football double-header, Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera hardly seems like a typical politician.

He's young, athletic and would rather talk about where Seattle Mariner shortstop Alex Rodriguez -- who is from Herrera's Miami neighborhood -- will play next season than discuss politics.

But it didn't take an incessantly buzzing pager and ringing cell phone to tip off the Nevada Democratic Party that Herrera is not only a promising politician, but perhaps its most valuable player.

Herrera is favored to be named the Clark County Commission's next chairman in January, a move political observers see as a springboard to the 27-year-old's promising political career.

"Dario is the whole package," said Rory Reid, chairman of the state's Democratic Party. "He is charismatic, hard-working, well-meaning; he's everything you want an elected official to be."

Political experts note the arrival of Herrera comes at a time when there are few players left on the Democratic Party's bench.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa was once seen as the Democrats' rising star. She dashed her party's expectations two years ago when she dropped out of the governor's race, and she smothered its hopes in September when she bailed out of the race to fill retiring Democratic Senator Richard Bryan's seat.

"Del Papa was once seen as the heir apparent, but she dropped out of two races and she's not seen that way anymore," said Eric Herzik, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Democrat Ed Bernstein, chosen to replace Del Papa in the U.S. Senate race, fell short Tuesday in his bid to upset Republican John Ensign, losing by 15 percentage points. As a result, two of the state's high-profile positions -- the governor and one Senate seat -- will be filled by Republicans.

"Since the early 1990s, the Republicans have been grooming candidates and working on registration; they're well organized, and they've caught up," Herzik said.

The Democratic Party will have to find its newest star in the south, he said, because the northern end of Nevada is too conservative and it's doubtful politicians in the north will be elected to a federal office.

And, Herzik said, two of the most popular Democrats in Southern Nevada -- Assemblywomen Chris Giunchigliani and Barbara Buckley -- are too liberal for statewide politics.

"The Democrats don't have the kind of leader that the Republicans have," Herzik said. "Part of it is age and finding the attractive candidate; someone with pizazz. That's why Herrera fits. He's a young guy, good-looking, Hispanic -- he has everything."

However, he also might have the temptations of a young politician.

Herrera has been known to become close socially to the Las Vegas Valley's most influential power brokers. He is friends, for example, with developer Billy Walters and Silver State Disposal President Steve Kalish.

Not only has Herrera been invited to exclusive dinners with Kalish, but he has spent time at Silver State's California beach home.

Herrera also was ridiculed for his handling of an attempt to oust Clark County Manager Dale Askew last year. Herrera went public with his intention to get the board's support to fire Askew while Askew was out of town vacationing.

Rather than meeting with the county manager, Herrera chose to talk to the media about Askew's lack of managerial skills. When his attempt to oust Askew failed, Herrera was publicly embarrassed.

"I may not have handled it as professionally and maturely as I would have liked," said Herrera, who called the ordeal a learning experience.

At 27 years old, Herrera's youth is seen as an advantage, but fellow politicians agree the key to his future is resisting those temptations that can accompany success.

Former Gov. Bob Miller, who gave Herrera his first shot in politics when he hired Herrera to work on his 1994 campaign, emphasized the importance of "staying grounded."

"Sometimes people encourage you to move faster than you should be moving and reach for things that are unrealistic," Miller said. "If he was to start thinking more of himself than other people do, he'll have to overcome that."

Political consultant Billy Vassiliadis said Herrera has the tools to become a successful politician, but, like Miller, he cautioned him not to move too quickly. He said former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones is an example of a shining star who tried to rise too quickly by running for governor.

"I think Dario has got as much potential as there is in a candidate for higher office," Vassiliadis said. "The only yellow flag I'd put up is that he needs to gain experience, and he needs to mature and not get ahead of himself."

After two years in the state Assembly, Herrera ran for county commission and is midway through his first term, and it is unlikely there will be a second -- politicos believe higher offices are in his near future.

While he declined to discuss whether he has decided to run for the third congressional seat to be created next year, Herrera doesn't deny he is seriously considering the post. And his aspirations don't stop at Congress.

"I'd be honored to have the opportunity to compete for governor of our state down the road," Herrera said.

Although Democratic Party officials say they aren't encouraging Herrera to run for any particular office, Herzik and other Nevada political experts agree he is being groomed to run for the new congressional seat. Herzik said the move would be a logical step for the commissioner.

"His biggest problem is even though the Board of County Commissioners is arguably more powerful than the State Senate, it's just Clark County," Herzik said. "He doesn't have a statewide presence."

Herzik acknowledged that Herrera can overcome the obstacle. And during the last year, he has proven he is well on his way.

Herrera golfed with President Clinton during his April visit to Las Vegas. He co-hosted a reception for first lady Hillary Clinton. And in August he spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

"There was a long line of people who wanted to speak," Reid said of choosing Nevada representatives at the convention. "When we thought about who would articulate well on Nevada issues, Dario was the obvious and clear choice."

At an appearance in Las Vegas last month, former Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros confirmed that Herrera is being recognized at the national level.

"You are a star, and you're going places," Cisneros said.

Herrera, who served one term as a state assemblyman before becoming a commissioner, said most politicians he meets are surprised by his age. But the combination of his age, his Cuban heritage and his athleticism helps him reach people -- whether it's at a high school assembly or a national convention.

"There is a huge disconnect between elected officials, the government process and the people we were elected to serve," Herrera said. "There are powerful ways to communicate to make them understand we care about their concerns."

Even Republicans have taken note of Herrera's rise. Clark County Republican Party chairman Lonnie Hammargren, who considered running against Herrera in the 1998 commission race, said Herrera's ethnic background is a plus.

"I like the fact that we need some diversity in our population," Hammargren said. "For that reason he could have and should have a future in politics."

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., has been Herrera's mentor since he ran for the State Assembly. Reid, the father of Rory Reid, said he has watched Herrera grow as a politician. And while Reid doesn't see a void in capable Democratic candidates, he does view Herrera as a success.

"I think he's a fine young man," Reid said. "I can't say enough things about him; he has a great future."

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