Titus would join Goodman on ticket in run for governor

Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2001 | 10:41 a.m.

Nevada Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus has been rumored to be interested in many posts, including Clark County commissioner, governor, and the new 3rd Congressional District seat -- now add lieutenant governor to that list.

But that is predicated on one condition -- that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman runs on the Democratic ticket against incumbent Gov. Kenny Guinn.

"When you're a Democrat who has been around as long as I have, your name gets thrown around for a lot of races," said Titus, who is in the middle of her fourth term in the Senate. "I would consider a run as part of a ticket with Oscar because I believe he is a great mayor and would make a great governor.

"But he has the decision to make."

Goodman, as he has long said when questioned about political advancement, repeated today: "I am the happiest mayor in the universe." He said he is "absolutely not" interested in a run for governor at this time.

Goodman called Titus "a very bright" officeholder and said that "if she meant it (that he would make a great governor), then I'm flattered. But as long as I am happy (as mayor) I will keep on being happy."

Titus said she would be proud to be Goodman's liaison to the Legislature.

Titus, to attempt to clarify her political future, said at this time she is most interested in re-election to the state Senate in 2001 and no longer interested in the Clark County Commission.

The UNLV political science professor's interest in a return to the Senate is a big turnaround from when the 2001 legislative session ended in June and Titus expressed unhappiness over that job.

"When you are in the minority for a decade, it can be frustrating," Titus said. "You start to think there are other avenues you can take to get your agenda across. But now, with three open seats, maybe we will win the majority. That is a big factor why I am not interested in the County Commission."

Another big reason, she said, is that Rory Reid, son of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., the second-highest-ranking Senate Democrat on Capitol Hill, is seeking the seat that will be vacated by Clark County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera, who is expected to seek the 3rd Congressional District post.

"I do not want to split the party," Titus said, over a race in which both she and Reid would get the lion's share of primary votes.