Columnist Erin Neff: Much dirty work to be done as election nears

Erin Neff

Friday, Aug. 30, 2002 | 4:16 a.m.

IN HONOR OF tomorrow's holiday, National Public Radio has been broadcasting reports of some of the nation's dirty work.

And while you can argue that cleaning hospital laundry and treating wastewater are messy professions, the filthiest job in Southern Nevada this weekend is running for office.

Once reasonable people are suddenly suffering from election year obsessive-compulsive disorder -- ritualistically pointing fingers, begging for money and reverting to the time-honored tradition of stopping at nothing.

Candidates known for principles now chip away at them in mailers, ads and pushes for endorsements for the larger political ideal -- winning.

Take county commission candidate Mark James. A media darling hyping his years of service as a state senator, he's bucking the conservative wing of the county Republican Party by standing firm to some of his beliefs: a woman's right to choose; repeal of the state's sodomy law and careful study of problems with the death penalty.

Now James, a moderate Republican, is locked in a tight primary with Tim Cory, a former Democrat who is now leaning far right. James appears to be changing his stripes by not only supporting Question 2 -- the initiative banning gay marriage -- but signing a pledge that he supports the measure in extreme ways that even some conservative Republicans won't go.

The pledge, written by the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage, asks if a candidate would reject concepts like domestic partner benefits and the teaching of alternative lifestyles in school.

So much for being a maverick.

Television doesn't offer much solace. There's Republican Abbi Silver having a heart-to-heart with viewers about the most important issue facing Clark County's new top cop -- campaign contributions.

Since Silver has made her opponent's contributions from strip club interests (donations he subsequently returned) the issue, nobody has talked about crime, ethics or potential reform of Nevada's death penalty system.

And that's a shame because Silver has been among the county's strongest advocates for women and children in domestic violence cases.

The most notable example of election-year dirt is in the race for Congressional District 3 -- already a television slugfest between those supporting Democrat Dario Herrera and those backing Republican Jon Porter.

But those guys lost their way long before the attack ads. Porter, a former state senator, held up the entire legislative session whining about how the new district should be drawn. Herrera, chairman of the Clark County Commission, has carried heavy ethical baggage for a vote that helped his wife's clients and for accepting a public housing contract that was never approved by the agency's board.

Over in Congressional District 1, Republican candidate Lynette Boggs McDonald talks about business development and education but issues press releases focused on her want to be the first black Republican female in the House and the debatable importance of the incumbent's decision not to debate 15 times.

Boggs McDonald strode into politics as the first woman ever appointed to the Las Vegas City Council. Her first ordinance strengthened the city's disclosure and ethics laws.

Now it's all about courting black Democrats away from Rep. Shelley Berkley and hyping the non-issue of debate scheduling.

The mail is not only the messiest place to work right now, not because of anthrax, but it's also confusing, thanks to Kenny Guinn.

With no real opponents to fear in his re-election bid, the popular governor is helping out his friends in the party and even buddies facing off against each other.

Not sure who to vote for in the Republican Senate District 8 primary? Don't look to Guinn for help.

Tom Christensen sent out the first mail suggesting an endorsement: "Tom Christensen comes from a family with a long tradition of leadership. Tom will serve his constituents with intelligence, hard work, and distinction. He'll make a great legislator for the residents of state Senate District 8," Guinn said.

A few days later, Guinn heaped praise on Christensen's opponent: "Barbara Cegavske's experience as a three-term assemblywoman makes her a highly qualified candidate to represent the residents of state Senate District 8. Barbara's strong family values, work ethic and commitment to her constituents will make her a great senator."

Hope Senate 8 Republicans voted early.

At least there's no mail tomorrow; we could all use a day off from this type of work.