Political notebook: Boggs McDonald cites mayors’ endorsements

Erin Neff

Friday, Jan. 11, 2002 | 9:29 a.m.

Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald is hoping 13 proves lucky for her congressional bid.

On Thursday, Boggs McDonald announced she is being endorsed by 13 of Nevada's mayors, although the leaders of the state's two largest cities have not officially endorsed her.

During a campaign event at the Bali Hai Golf Course restaurant, Boggs McDonald said the endorsements transcend race, party affiliation and geographic boundaries.

The Republican downplayed the fact that Nevada's 1st Congressional District only encompasses urban areas in Clark County, saying endorsements from the mayors of cities such as Fallon, Reno, Sparks and Winnemucca show they are committed to her goal to represent the entire state's interests in Congress.

As first vice president of the Nevada League of Cities, Boggs McDonald is familiar with a number of Northern and rural Nevada issues.

But Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has already held a press conference endorsing incumbent Democrat Shelley Berkley, and Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson has, so far, declined to endorse either candidate.

Still, Boggs McDonald was pleased to announce endorsements from Boulder City Mayor Robert Ferraro, Elko Mayor Michael Franzoia, Fernley Mayor David Stix Jr., North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon, Wells Mayor Rusty Tybo, Yerington Mayor Doug Homestead, Lovelock Mayor Ray Espinoza, Reno Mayor Jeff Griffin, Carlin Mayor Linda Bingaman, Mesquite Mayor Chuck Horne, Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford Jr., Winnemucca Mayor Paul Vesco and Sparks Mayor Tony Armstrong.

Only Montandon, a fellow Republican, represents a city in the 1st Congressional District.

Boggs McDonald said Thursday she was poised to announce fund-raising totals for her campaign through the end of 2001 that "make me the number one challenger in the United States."

Although she declined to announce any totals, Boggs McDonald said she has met her own personal fund-raising goals.

CES helps Porter

The Consumer Electronics Show indirectly helped bring in some money for Republican congressional candidate Jon Porter.

Rep. Michael Oxley, R-Ohio, who was an invited guest at CES spent some time Wednesday morning at a fund-raiser for Porter.

Porter received about $20,000 for his campaign for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District during the event. Porter, a state senator, is challenging Democrat Dario Herrera, chairman of the Clark County Commission.

Porter has raised about $600,000 to Herrera's $750,000.

Lawyer considers bid

Democrats lamenting the lack of candidates for statewide office may soon see two credible candidates enter the fray.

Las Vegas attorney Danny Ayala is considering running for attorney general against the Republicans' announced candidate, Brian Sandoval.

State Democratic Party Chairman Terry Care said Ayala has expressed interest in running and is determining whether he can raise enough money for the statewide race.

Although Sandoval has already raised more than $250,000 for the race and has key law enforcement endorsements, Ayala could draw the Hispanic vote away from Sandoval and win in Southern Nevada where the Reno-based Sandoval isn't as well known.

Ayala could also benefit from a feud top Republican political consultant Sig Rogich has with Sandoval over his vote as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission when he nixed a vote for one of Rogich's clients. Rogich, who met recently with Ayala, is also friends with the Democrat's family.

Democrats are also hoping Clark County lobbyist Terry Lamaruglia will run for state Senate District 9, a seat from which incumbent Republican Bill O'Donnell is stepping down.

If Lamaruglia decides to run he would have the benefit of a contested Republican primary between Assemblyman Dennis Nolan and businessman Bill Brady.

Libertarian Assembly candidate

Even Libertarians admit many of their candidates don't have a real shot at winning most elections.

But James Dan has already proven he can pull in both money and votes, raising $57,000 in the 2000 race and garnering 45.3 percent of the vote in a loss to incumbent Democrat Vonne Chowning.

Chris Azzaro, who consults Libertarian candidates in "winnable local elections" nationwide, said he thinks Dan has an excellent shot in Assembly District 28 after reapportionment.

In 2000, Dan won seven of the district's 17 precincts. Six of those precincts remain intact in the new boundaries, while only one of the precincts Dan lost remains unchanged.

Azzaro, who lives in Las Vegas and leads Nevada's Libertarian Party, said that although Libertarians number just half of one percent of all voters in that district, Dan already has good name recognition and sent out the first mailer of the election campaign -- a holiday card with an American flag.

Chowning has to move to stay in her own district. She also faces a challenge from Democrat Moises Denis, who is backed by the Hispanic Coalition, in the predominantly Hispanic district.

O'Neil targets Nevada Power

As a third party candidate, Pete O'Neil already has to take on the fund-raising giants Dario Herrera and Porter for Nevada's 3rd Congressional seat.

But the Independent candidate is certainly finding support going after Nevada's Goliath power company.

O'Neil said that during his campaigning he has talked with numerous residents who were unaware of the Public Utilities Commission's upcoming consumer sessions on Nevada Power's proposed rate hike.

"Could Nevada Power have made the print any smaller on the notice for those hearings, which it disseminated to the public?" O'Neil asked.

He said he is making it his goal to tell people about the upcoming PUC hearings. His first public awareness campaign on that front will be Monday at the Nevada Power offices on West Sahara Avenue, when he plans to denounce the company with the help of actors, a monster-size rubber stamp and a trophy dubbing Nevada Power the worst managed company of the year.