Political notebook: What helps make Oscar happiest mayor? Donations

Erin Neff

Friday, April 19, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.

The Happiest Mayor, in just one week, has pulled in about a quarter of the money needed to run for governor .

Not that Oscar Goodman's running for anything other than re-election as mayor of Las Vegas.

But pulling in well over $400,000 at a fund-raiser Wednesday at Cili's at the Bali Hai Golf Club raised some eyebrows.

"It's never too soon to start raising money," Goodman said Thursday.

Especially not when the race every pundit wants him to enter is in November.

Gov. Kenny Guinn already had more than $1 million at the end of 2001. But Hizzoner is just about the only would-be opponent he slightly worries about.

Goodman also said Thursday he has met with Matthew Dushoff, a Democrat who has announced he's running for governor. Was it a pre-endorsement meeting or simply sizing up the primary opponent?

Goodman is one of the best-known mayors nationwide and is still beloved by just about everyone, save the gaming industry and the homeless, here in Southern Nevada.

Since Guinn has actually proved the governor's mansion can be in Las Vegas, Goodman might not mind spending a few weeks during the Legislature up in the frozen tundra. After all, Carson City also has places to bet sports and drink Beefeater.

That other little problem Goodman cites as being in the way of a state run -- -- downtown redevelopment -- shouldn't hinder him either. Come on, mayor, Neonopolis is opening!

Cash is king

While many Nevadans dreaded Monday's tax deadline, several candidates for Congress were gleefully filing campaign fund-raising reports showing massive cash on hand.

Democrat Dario Herrera and Republican Jon Porter both boasted about their gains in the race for Nevada's new congressional district.

Porter and fellow Republican candidate Lynette Boggs McDonald got some help from former President George Bush. Herrera got back from Washington last week after House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt threw him a fund-raiser.

But independent candidate Pete O'Neil sat busily trying to boost his campaign coffers one silver-haired retiree at a time.

On May 17 he'll get on the bus with seniors willing to part with $15 for a nice ride to Laughlin and a lunch buffet. The bus will pick up riders at ad hoc senior centers Arizona Charlie's West and the Castaways. For information, call 454-3838 and ask for the O'Neil Laughlin Fun Tour.

"I've been thinking about ways to raise money," O'Neil said. "This seems like a great way for seniors on a fixed income to contribute." Now if they would only give him as much as they'll put in Laughlin's machines.

Spring in the air

Ah. Spring in Washington, D.C. Cherry blossoms. Warm breezes, and Democrats and an Independent holding hands in the name of the environment.

Earth Day makes everyone want to hug a tree, so on the heels of the Senate's rejection of oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic Preserve, Sen. Harry Reid will once again stump for the environment.

Reid, D-Nev., joined today with Robert Torricelli, D-N.J. and James Jeffords, I-Vt. -- you know, the guy Nevada wants to vote with the state on Yucca Mountain -- in a pre-Earth Day gig.

Earth Day is Monday, but apparently the stars were aligned perfectly today over the Botanical Gardens as the three senators rallied with Bill Meadows (I kid you not), the president of the Wilderness Society.

Tonight a few politicos will toss a few back in homage to Mother Earth -- oh, and as a fund-raiser to fight Yucca Mountain. At Washington's Politiki bar on Pennsylvania Avenue tonight, $1 will go to Nevada's fight against the dump with every purchase of a "Meltdown" or a "Suck a Yucca."

Pass the salt and the hat.

Come out, come out

Democrat Dario Herrera doesn't like it when media report on his ethical troubles.

In fact, he prefers "ethically troubled" to be nowhere near his name in print, and if it must be used, it should come with a disclaimer noting how he has skirted the state law (er, avoided an ethics hearing) each time.

But when it comes to his opponent in the 3rd Congressional District, Herrera likes the "Where is Jon Porter?" speculation just fine.

This week he issued a direct challenge to Porter: "Show Nevada families what you've done to fight Yucca Mountain, fight Nevada Power rate increases and improve the post-9-11 economy."

"Jon, your silence is deafening," Herrera said in a press release issuing the challenge.

He was a bit nicer in his letter to Porter, asking: "Just show us what you've done." Now if only Herrera could have shown up to that recent debate, he wouldn't have to resort to that.

Brower appointed

Assemblyman Greg Brower, R-Reno, has been appointed to a national task force created by the American Legislative Exchange Council to examine the medical malpractice crisis.

The task force met in Las Vegas last week as part of the council's 2002 Spring Task Force Summit.

Brower, who is the Assembly minority whip, will do well to brush up on the issue likely to dominate the 2003 Legislature. Too bad he's not one of the lawmakers appointed here in Nevada to study the problem.

For the record

Sen. Harry Reid gives the opening remarks Saturday at the Women at Work in a 24/7 World conference sponsored by the Nevada Women's Lobby. Reid speaks at 8:30 a.m. The event concludes with a session on issues affecting women in the workplace. That panel features state Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, and Marybel Batjer, Gov. Kenny Guinn's chief of staff. The event is at the Stardust hotel. For information call 615-2383.

Dario Herrera will speak April 26 to a luncheon meeting of the Urban Chamber of Commerce at Palace Station at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $25 for walk-ins, $22 in advance and $20 for members in advance. For information, call 648-6222.