Political notebook: Forbes raises money for Porter

Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2001 | 10:45 a.m.

The battle for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District seat continues to draw national attention, with former presidential candidate Steve Forbes swinging through the state this week to raise money for Republican candidate Jon Porter.

Forbes attended events Monday night in Reno and a breakfast engagement Tuesday in Las Vegas to pull in at least $40,000 for Porter, a state senator making his second bid for Congress.

Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris previously came to Las Vegas to raise money for Porter's bid. Porter, who lost to Shelley Berkley in 2000, is now running against Clark County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera.

Herrera, a Democrat, will also benefit from marquee dignitaries coming to town to raise money. House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Missouri, was scheduled to appear at a recent fund-raiser in Las Vegas before the crash of an American Airlines jet in New York forced him to cancel.

Gephardt and other Democratic leaders, including New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, will be in Las Vegas next week for the AFL-CIO convention, and may also raise money during their visit.

"I expect a lot of dignitaries on both sides to come in," said Republican campaign strategist Mike Slanker. "This is a race that's on the national radar."

Both parties are battling for the seat, with national Democrats hoisting Herrera as one of their top 10 candidates to support, according to Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Mark Nevins.

The GOP currently has a six-seat edge in Congress.

Forbes returned to Nevada this week to support Porter after holding similar fund-raisers for him in 2000.

Third-party candidate Pete O'Neill has also declared his candidacy for the seat.

Sheriff candidate

Another potential candidate for sheriff has withdrawn his name from consideration.

Las Vegas Constable Robert "Bobby G" Gronauer said Tuesday he will instead seek re-election to the post he has held since 1998.

Gronauer joins attorney John Moran Jr. who announced Monday he would not run for sheriff to replace Jerry Keller who is not seeking re-election.

Metro Police Deputy Chief Bill Young is currently the favorite to win the seat, garnering internal department support and the assistance of leading political strategists.

Two other Metro employees, Lt. Steve Franks and Detective Gordon Martines, have also declared their candidacy.

Two Metro captains, Randy Oaks and Gary Schofield, are both considering runs, but Schofield has said his candidacy is unlikely.