Friday, Dec. 20, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.
In the annals of bad holiday gift-giving, "Seinfeld's" George Costanza is remembered for his fake donation to the "Human Fund."
But power law firm Kummer Kaempfer Bonner and Renshaw actually did make a donation to Opportunity Village in lieu of gifts to its clients this season, as it indicated in a letter to past gift recipients.
Clients and friends of the law firm's government affairs department received a letter on stationery featuring frosted pine needles stating: "Like you, we are conscious of those in the community who need our help."
Michael Jabara, director of business development, said the firm does not disclose individual donations to charities. He did say the firm's focus shifted after Sept. 11, 2001, to helping local charities with both cash and volunteers.
"We support a lot of activities throughout the year," Jabara said.
Indeed. Most of the recipients of the firm's letter know just how generous the firm is in bankrolling local political campaigns.
And as now former Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny has proven in her generosity back to the firm's clients in zoning matters, those donations really are the gift that keeps on giving.
State of affairs
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman will hold his annual State of the City address Jan. 14 at the East Las Vegas Community Senior Center at Eastern and Stewart avenues.
The topic of the address Goodman will diligently craft in the coming weeks reportedly is a sort of recap of his four years in office -- where the city was and where it's going.
One thing for sure, given the awkward 5:15 p.m. start time (suited perfectly to local television news) is that the State of the City is also the start of Goodman's unofficial re-election campaign.
At least Goodman's speech is free, open to the public and televised live on KCLV Cox cable Channel 2.
North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon charges you $25 to hear his State of the City speech. No wonder residents there pay the highest property taxes in the state.
The lunchtime affair on Jan. 23 takes place at Texas Station. And, perhaps out of necessity for the valley's quiet mayor, it features a master of ceremonies -- "Nevada Week in Review" host Mitch Fox.
For tickets, call 633-1005 by Jan. 16.
Gov. Kenny Guinn, who didn't even run a re-election campaign, will actually have to say something on Jan. 20 when he gives his State of the State address in Carson City.
In 1999, Guinn announced hiring freezes and cuts to state services.
In 2001, Guinn warned: "The state's expenditure and long-range revenue projections show that, without changes, Nevada will face a tremendous shortfall within eight years."
Something like $800 million?
Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson waits for everybody else to finish before opening up at a Henderson Chamber of Commerce-sponsored State of the City.
His address will be at noon Feb. 20 at the Hyatt Regency-Lake Las Vegas, 101 Montelago Blvd. The cost is $30 if reserved by Feb. 14, $35 at the door and $40 for non-chamber members. Tickets: 565-8951.
And a warning from the chamber: "No-shows will be billed." That ought to pack the house.
Roberts making a list
Lia Roberts remembers the horrors experienced by those who eavesdropped on conversations in her Communist Romanian homeland.
So public officials take note when the 53-year-old GOP activist calls them trying to drum up support for her bid to become chairwoman of the Nevada Republican Party.
"I ask them if they're supporting me because I'm making a list," Roberts says, folding the growing Who's Who Among Republicans in Nevada led by Rep. Jim Gibbons and Secretary of State Dean Heller.
Roberts has been active in politics since arriving in the United States in 1979, thanks to a chance meeting with an Idaho businessman in the snow-covered mountains near Dracula's castle.
Arthur Arnold watched Lia Sandu playing in the snow with her son and decided to ask the stranger how she liked living in a Communist country. The divorcee replied that she loved her country but hated Communism and would get out if she could.
They exchanged addresses for the purpose of exchanging pictures Arnold took of Sandu and her son. Arnold said he would help her any way he could. But the secret police were watching and wanted Sandu to report all details of the conversation.
Before she went to her meeting she applied for a visa to visit a number of Iron Curtain countries, with the trip's final day set for Vienna. She never intended to come home.
When she went to her interrogation they denied her visa. Undaunted, she applied instead for a trip to Siberia, which the government approved. While in the Soviet Union, Sandu wrote a postcard in English to Sandu asking him to help her with what they had discussed.
The Russians either couldn't read the English, or never saw it as a potential defector's plea for help.
Either way, shortly after Arnold arrived in Bucharest with papers to marry Sandu and bring her and her son to America. The Romanian government approved the marriage when U.S. senators, including then-Nevada Sen. Paul Laxalt, came to meet with Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu to discuss Most Favored Nation status.
The second she stepped foot in America, the new Mrs. Arnold became involved in politics, calling the Republican Laxalt her "American father."
After Arnold's death, Lia remarried and refocused her attention on Nevada Republicans. She said she has raised more than $1 million for the party and candidates since 1986 in her various roles.
Gov. Kenny Guinn appointed Roberts to the Taxicab Commission in 2000 and first lady Dema Guinn tops the list of those endorsing Roberts for state chairwoman.
Remember, Kenny, she's making a list.
And check it out twice
"Nevada Week in Review" will sum up the whole sordid year of news and politics beginning tonight and finishing up next Friday.
Tonight journalists, including yours truly, will comment on stories 10 through 6 of the year. Next Friday we'll count down to No. 1.
The show, with master of ceremonies Fox, airs at 7:30 p.m. on KLVX Channel 10.
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