State GOP gets early jump on Democrats for 2002 election

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001 | 9:33 a.m.

When George Togliatti decided last week not to run for state Senate, the Democrats lost another potential big-name candidate with less than a year to go before the 2002 elections.

If the elections were held today, the GOP would likely sweep the state's six constitutional offices, retain control of the state Senate and possibly make up ground in the heavily Democratic Assembly.

Lindsey Jydstrup, executive director of the Democratic Legislative Caucus, is still hopeful Democratic candidates emerge as challengers. But she admits Gov. Kenny Guinn's early entrance into the 1998 race has set a precedent for political candidates.

"I think it is because of that, that potential candidates might think, 'If I haven't made up my mind by now, it's too late'," Jydstrup said.

In the not-so-distant past, potential candidates would spend the holidays deciding whether to enter the race and would make a decision shortly into the election year.

The Guinn model -- in which the then-prospective governor announced almost two years ahead of time his bid for the office -- gave a decided fund-raising edge to the first serious candidate into the race.

Guinn is employing the same tactics as an incumbent, already having raised millions as the Democrats look for a challenger.

"I hate it when people look at a race and they see a correlation to the money spent and the winner," said state Democratic Party Chairman Terry Care, who is also a state senator.

But, Care added, today's political reality makes potential candidates fearful of where they will get the cash to make a serious bid.

While both parties try to cultivate "the up and coming next generation" of candidates as Care calls them, the Democrats have now watched their starting quarterback and second and third string contenders bow out of the race for governor.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa was initially considered the Democrats' best candidate to give Guinn a run for it in 2002. But Del Papa not only opted not to run for governor, she also decided not to seek another term as Attorney General.

With Del Papa out, Democrats courted Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, and when Goodman said no, looked to Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny. After Kenny turned down a bid, former Mirage Resorts executive Dan Lee began considering a run.

But Lee still hasn't said he will run against Guinn, who Democrats admit will be very tough to beat.

"It used to be that people would be interested in running even if they didn't have a chance so that they'd get experience for future elections," Jydstrup said. "I truly believe we will end up with really quality candidates throughout the ticket, but right now they just aren't emerging."

So far only one Democrat has announced a bid for one of the state's six constitutional offices. Assemblyman John Lee, D-Las Vegas, will challenge Republican incumbent Kathy Augustine for Controller.

Former Gaming Control Board Chairman Brian Sandoval is the Republicans' early entry into the Attorney General's race, and thus far, no Democrat has emerged to challenge him for the open seat.

Togliatti had said he would run for state Senate in District 9 if he won the prized endorsement of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. The chamber endorsed Republican business owner Bill Brady over four-term GOP Assemblyman Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, and Togliatti.

"That's one of the seats, of course, that we're interested in, especially since you have inter-party fighting for it," Care said.

Care said he's talked to a number of people who are considering entering that race. But most of them ask him, "Where am I going to get the money? And say, 'Gee, I don't know the new district very well'," Care added.

Jydstrup said it is increasingly hard to find a candidate willing to sacrifice time away from their family or job to run for the state Legislature. But she remains confident.

"You always say a year is a lifetime in politics, but now a couple of months is a lifetime," Jydstrup said.

Care admits his party needs to do a better job of identifying prospective candidates earlier in the game.

"Looking down the road to 2004, '06 and '08, raising up and coming candidates is something we have to work on," he said.