Billboard attacking Alden heats up regents campaign

Jeffrey Libby

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 | 11:33 a.m.

The hand-painted billboard off U.S. 95 in Henderson reads, "Mark Alden is a danger to our community."

Alden, a regent whose seat as trustee of state higher education is being challenged by Henderson high-tech businessman Jim Ratigan, says that stark warning is a good reason to vote for him.

"When someone puts up that kind of signage, I think that sends a clear message -- not to vote for the candidate behind it," Alden said.

Placed on a trailer on the roadside Sunday by Ratigan supporters, the billboard marks a distinct departure from what has been a relatively quiet race.

But Ratigan defended the strong wording of his billboard.

"I mean 'dangerous' in terms of his ability to bring higher education to the area, his views on higher education," Ratigan said. "How are you going to plan for the future of education for the community if you can't count on your representative to lead the charge?"

The billboard also encourages motorists to go to the website earthtoalden.com.

That website, which takes its name from a 1995 newspaper editorial, contains three separate pages accusing Alden of promoting a "boot camp for bad grades" for sixth graders and says he poses a "danger to our children and our schools." Quotes from two columnists critical of Alden are cited.

The website contains links to e-mail Ratigan or to connect to a website containing information about his candidacy. It encourages voters to "Join the Resistance!"

In a two-page prepared response to the billboard and website, Alden defends his record and says he will continue to run an "above-board campaign."

"He's lifting snippets from documents and stories, placing them totally out of context and trying to make me look bad," Alden writes. "It's a cheap shot by a candidate who has no record to run on."

Ratigan counters by saying that he directed his campaign manager to include only information on the website that could be "substantiated and supported by documentation in the press."

"There's no innuendo, no name calling, " Ratigan said. "If he (Alden) thinks I'm taking things out of context, I'd love to have people go and read the whole articles."