Goynes gives his support to Eliason

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, April 11, 2001 | 11:18 a.m.

North Las Vegas City Council candidate Robert Eliason may have been given the boost he needs to beat his opponent in the June 5 general election, with the announcement that former City Councilman Theron Goynes has endorsed him.

Goynes picked up 25 percent of the vote when he ran against Eliason, two-term City Councilman John Rhodes, and two others in the primary election last week.

In that race, Eliason received 28.47 percent of the vote, or 2,133 ballots, while Rhodes received 36.6 percent of the vote, or 2,742 ballots.

If the 1,857 North Las Vegas residents who cast their ballots for Goynes now tip their hats to Eliason, Eliason will make up the difference he was behind Rhodes in the primary election.

Eliason said he is serious about the race and told the Sun Tuesday that he has hired political consultant Dan Hart to run his campaign. Hart has run numerous campaigns around the Las Vegas Valley, including the most recent Las Vegas City Council race when he helped City Councilman Michael Mack win his first election.

An elated Eliason said he asked Goynes for the endorsement on election night, and had been waiting to hear back either way.

"Theron has laid the groundwork for a great city in his 20 years of service and we need the people there to build upon that legacy," said Eliason, a former North Las Vegas planning commissioner.

Goynes, a North Las Vegas councilman for almost 20 years, said he decided to endorse Eliason because he believes he is the best candidate. He also said that Rhodes' legal troubles, with an approaching June trial date on charges of insurance fraud, is a cloud over the city.

Rhodes is scheduled to go to trial six days after the general election, relating to an alleged burglary at his home in 1998.

District Judge Michael Cherry, who threw out one charge filed against Rhodes, has not set a date for Rhodes' two other insurance fraud charges relating to another alleged burglary at his home, this one in 1997.

"John has been on the council for two terms and he has made some valuable contributions but I think the little cloud of detriment he has hanging over his head is bad for the city," Goynes said. "I am looking to the end result and Eliason from my standpoint does not have any skeletons in the closet."

Rhodes said Monday that he was not concerned about the endorsement.

"The former councilman has that particular option and our goal is to work hard to show the citizens that their quality of life has been enhanced since I've been in office," Rhodes said.

Rhodes has picked up the endorsement of Culinary Union 226. Eliason also has the endorsement of the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association, which endorsed Rhodes in previous elections.

Both candidates admit they will have a major fund-raising push in the next two months. Of the $98,000 Rhodes raised since 2000, he has spent all but $7,000. Of the $25,195 Eliason raised, he has $16,000 heading into the general election.

Rhodes said he will work hard to get re-elected and will continue walking the ward.

Eliason said he will focus on quality-of-life issues, especially public safety.

"Public safety is always an issue," Eliason said. "People forget public safety also includes parks, senior housing, fire, all that plays into public safety. We have to give our kids and our families a place to go and feel safe."