Herrera misses debate with Porter

Erin Neff

Wednesday, April 3, 2002 | 9:23 a.m.

Billed as The Great Debate, the first showdown between the leading candidates for Nevada's new congressional district, turned out to be a big disappointment thanks to a no-show by Democrat Dario Herrera.

Organizers of the Associated General Contractors' quarterly luncheon sweated the days leading up to Tuesday's debate because they feared Republican state Sen. Jon Porter would back out.

Turns out they had reason to worry, but not about Porter -- who effortlessly worked the room at the MGM Grand Conference Center, iced tea and business cards in one hand as he shook dozens of hands with the other.

Herrera's aides nervously eyed wristwatches and assured reporters the chairman of the Clark County Commission was simply stuck at a commission meeting handling "big issues."

"So far, our great debate is one sided," AGC lobbyist and event moderator Gary Milliken said when organizers decided to begin 30 minutes late and without Herrera.

Reached after the debate, Herrera said he had "eagerly agreed" to attend so he could "talk about Porter's lack of leadership in response to the events of 9-11, rising energy costs and Yucca Mountain."

Herrera, who often ducks in and out of commission meetings, said Tuesday that "I couldn't leave my responsibility as chairman for a campaign event."

At the AGC event, Porter gave a five-minute introductory speech detailing his nearly two decades of public service and the small business he runs.

"Through these years of experience, I'm finding that most issues wind up in Washington, D.C.," he said about why he is running for Congress.

Porter then answered a number of questions -- designed to highlight the differences between the two candidates.

But with nothing to offset Porter's comments, many of the 275 in attendance left muttering, "It would have been nice to hear the other side," and, "Where was Herrera?"

Herrera said he accepted the AGC invitation even though it was on a commission meeting day because he hoped the county's business would be finished in time for him to attend.

Arguably the two biggest items on the agenda -- including proposed Yucca Mountain funding -- were finished by 11 a.m. and two commissioners left at that time to attend a press conference. The commission would have still had a quorum if Herrera also left.

Herrera said he had to stay to hear an item regarding a proposed eastern leg of the Las Vegas Beltway, which he said "could be devastating to hundreds of families in my district."