Columnist Jon Ralston: Peculiar times in Nevada politics

Friday, March 30, 2001 | 3:31 a.m.

Jon Ralston hosts the public affairs program "Face to Face" on Las Vegas ONE and also publishes the Ralston Report. His column for the Sun appears on Sundays and Wednesdays. Ralston can be reached at 870-7997 or by e-mail at ralston@ vegas.com

AMAZING HOW every year, right around this time, the political notebook overflows with unbelievable developments. I wonder why. Please, read to the end, lest you miss one of these valuable nuggets:

* The mayor makes a move: Sources report that Mayor Oscar Goodman, having seen the astounding success ($168,000) of Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera's exploratory committee event last week, has decided to follow suit.

Goodman is quietly assembling his own exploratory committee for a possible bid for governor next year. Goodman, whose popularity ratings in Southern Nevada are close to 90 percent, also is armed with poll results that show him crushing Guinn in Clark County. Sources report that U.S. Sen. Harry Reid has agreed to chair Goodman's exploratory committee and plans to round up bodies for a fund-raiser next month.

Goodman has decided to hold the event outdoors on that 61-acre site downtown because he believes it symbolizes what an effective mayor he has been and why he should be elected governor. When asked about the story, Goodman refused to comment, other than to smile and say: "I'm the mayor ... for now."

* McDonald's white flag: What makes His Honor's move so interesting is that his nemesis Michael McDonald, on the heels of his court victory, has decided to pack it in. Believing he has been vindicated, but not wishing to return to the hurly burly of City Hall, McDonald has decided to resign from his post and accept a job with Republic Silver State as a paid lobbyist.

Many of McDonald's friends, especially his City Hall aides and supportive staffers, have urged him to stay the course. But, according to one insider, McDonald told him: "What else do I have to prove? They took their best shots at me and I'm still standing. I showed them. And (his attorney) Rick Wright cost me a fortune so it's time to make some money." McDonald is expected to make his announcement at the end of the City Council meeting on Wednesday.

* Is the coup on? Sources report that Sen. Harry Reid, along with other key Democratic senators, has lost faith in the leadership of Minority Leader Tom Daschle. Reid is being pushed to try to take over as the top Democrat in the Senate as many Democrats believe Daschle has allowed them to lose the only chance they had to keep pace with the Republicans in fund-raising.

"We need soft money, the gamers need soft money to have any influence back here and Daschle has hurt us badly," confided one Reid intimate. Some say Reid may force a caucus vote of no confidence in Daschle as early as this week, thus paving the way for the Nevadan to become the Senate minority leader.

* Another hidden recording: What is it lately with these hidden tape recorders? First it was Michael McDonald taping Oscar Goodman. Now, sources close to the state Ethics Commission say a key piece of evidence against Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny in her pending case is a tape clandestinely made by someone at that infamous meeting at her house. That's the get-together where Kenny is accused of masterminding a planned break-in to the county building to find damaging information about Commissioner Mary Kincaid, whom Kenny was trying to defeat last year.

According to the tape, Kenny is overheard venting about Kincaid, "I'm going to get that (several expletives deleted). And then we'll buy some flowers from her store to put on her political grave." Kenny had no comment about whether she is capable of such vitriol.

* New Strip casino with strange owners: Now this is a switch. Sources close to Steve Wynn report that the casino developer has reached an agreement with a California Indian tribe to build a huge property. That's not that surprising -- Wynn had been negotiating with Indians before he sold Mirage Resorts.

But the shocker is where the property will be built -- not in California but right on the Desert Inn land Wynn owns. "Sure I sold out to the tribes," Wynn said in an interview. "But at least I'm not taking money out of the state like the other guys." Construction is slated to begin next April 1.

Happy April Fools' Day, folks.