Poll by GOP raises Herrera ethics issues

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

A poll released Tuesday by Republicans suggest Clark County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera's ethics troubles are hurting his bid for Congress.

The survey, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies in mid-March, showed the first double-digit lead for Republican state Sen. Jon Porter in his bid for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District.

Porter registered an 11-point advantage (45 to 34) when respondents were asked to select which candidate they would likely vote for in November. Twenty-one percent were undecided.

The pollsters questioned 400 registered voters in the district. The survey has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.

The most troubling part of the poll for Democrats will likely be the question asking respondents to rate a candidate's positive and negative attributes. Herrera's were neck and neck, with positives edging out negatives 23 to 21.

GOP pollster Glen Bolger said the survey shows Herrera "has been hurt by an investigation into a public relations contract he had with the Las Vegas Housing Authority and questions about his vote on a controversial billboard ordinance.

"Dario Herrera's recent ethics scandals have taken a toll on his image and ballot support," Bolger writes in the poll summary.

The poll's release was timed to hamper Herrera's fund-raising push. Next week Democratic leaders will hold a fund-raiser for Herrera in Washington. House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., House Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., are expected to attend.