Titus contemplates gubernatorial run

Erin Neff

Tuesday, June 19, 2001 | 11:07 a.m.

Dina Titus clearly left the 2001 legislative session unhappy about both what occurred in the state Senate and how things will proceed politically for the next decade.

While Titus, D-Las Vegas, the Senate minority leader, may not wish to return to the Legislature's newly drawn districts, she's not counting Carson City out of her political aspirations.

"The Democrats are looking for someone to run against (Gov.) Kenny Guinn," Titus said Monday after learning U.S. Sen. Harry Reid's son, Rory, may enter the Clark County Commission race that she coveted.

"I'm midterm (state Senate), and maybe I'll run for something bigger and better," Titus said.

Just days after a tumultuous legislative session ended, possible candidates for a number of offices have floated their names on the local political winds.

Titus, a political science professor at UNLV, had eyed Clark County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera's seat. Herrera announced Friday, just hours after the Legislature adjourned, that he will run for Nevada's third congressional seat.

Rory Reid, son of Capitol Hill's second highest-ranking Senate Democrat, recently stepped down from his post as chairman of the Nevada Democratic Party with eyes on running for office.

On Monday Reid met with Titus to tell her he is interested in Herrera's seat.

"I haven't made an announcement yet, but I'm certainly leaning that way," Reid said. "I've been around campaigns since I've been in diapers. I think I could serve the community well."

Reid, an attorney with Lionel Sawyer and Collins, said open county commission seats don't come around often enough to pass up. With three children, ages 5, 9 and 10, Reid said a commission seat would allow him to be a full-time father and part-time politician.

By announcing his intention to run for Herrera's seat, Reid jumped into county politics before other potential candidates such as Titus and Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson.

"I think we both have a lot to offer," Reid said of Titus. "I hope we don't burn up our energy running against each other."

Titus said Reid's conversation with her Monday, "means I have to make up my mind a lot sooner."

"I'm real disheartened with the Senate, but I don't know if politically or personally the commission is the thing to do."

Titus spent a good portion of the legislative session as a liberal counter to both Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, and Guinn.

When Guinn commented moments after the Legislature adjourned that lawmakers had wasted time during the 120-day session, Titus said she was "offended."

Democrats have been searching for a candidate to run for governor since Guinn was elected in 1998. Party leaders have encouraged Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman to consider the position.

While Goodman loves the publicity that a potential gubernatorial bid brings, he also says he's not sure he wants to live in Carson City.

"Right now I'm the happiest mayor who ever lived," Goodman said this morning. "As long as I'm happy, I'll continue being the mayor."

Goodman, who has remained wildly popular since sweeping to office as a Populist-style political novice in 1999, said he has received "an awful lot of pressure" to run against Guinn.

"Certainly the governor's position is a very powerful position and can affect an awful lot of people," Goodman said. "But I've got my own projects in the city."

State Sen. Terry Care, chairman of the Nevada Democratic Party, said he's spoken to several people about the governor's race, but has yet to hear a definitive answer from any of them. Care, D-Las Vegas, declined to name the potential candidates.

But Care said he thinks Titus is "more than capable of holding any office in the state."

Care also said top offices such as Clark County Commission, U.S. Congress and governor require long-term planning and fund-raising to let both potential donors and voters know the candidate is serious.

"Gov. Guinn made his plans two years before the election," Care said. "You want to start early."