Politial notebook: Green candidate not in House race as a spoiler

Erin Neff

Friday, Jan. 18, 2002 | 9:59 a.m.

Lane Startin doesn't see himself as a spoiler, although he admits his candidacy for Congress could take votes from the Democratic incumbent.

As one of just 1,083 voters registered with the Green Party in Clark County -- as of November -- Startin simply wants to use his congressional bid as a way to get the party's message out.

"I'm looking at this race more as a chance to discuss issues and talk about other Green Party candidates," said Startin, 28, co-chairman of the Green Party in Clark County. "I don't think I'm in the position to be a spoiler unless I can get 10 percent of the vote."

Startin has filed to run in Nevada's 1st Congressional District against Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Republican challenger Lynette Boggs McDonald, a Las Vegas councilwoman.

He said he would be "ecstatic" to raise $100,000 for the race in which Berkley already has $800,000 and Boggs McDonald $250,000.

But as the Green Party's Ralph Nader proved by taking Democratic votes from Al Gore in the 2000 election, Startin can see how some of Berkley's support base could come his way.

"The Green Party appeals to progressive minded people who think the Democrats are too corporate minded," Startin said.

But Republicans are ripe for Green Party attack, too. And Startin thinks Boggs McDonald could be hurt by her ties to national Republicans who back a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain.

The Green Party focuses on workers' rights, labor issues and, of course, the environment. As the party's co-chairman, Startin is also recruiting candidates to run in other races.

So far Stan Vaughan has agreed to run for Assembly District 7 and former party chairman Paul Lenart is considering a bid for County Commission.

Partisan proclamation

Jan. 11 was dubbed Ann Wagner day in Nevada.

If you're like most Nevadans, you've never heard of her.

But as co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, Wagner's recent -- and first -- visit to Nevada was designed to raise money for the party. And that was enough to get a day named after her.

So when she arrived at Clark County Republican headquarters Dec. 11, Wagner was greeted by Nevada first lady Dema Guinn and received a nice proclamation honoring her for her years of service to the GOP in Missouri.

The proclamation singled her out for chairing failed political campaigns of John Ashcroft, now attorney general.

"Look where he is now," Wagner said as Clark County Republican Chairman Steve Wark read the proclamation.

The final "whereas ..." honored her for her sound, conservative values.

Guinn's staff confirms the proclamation was signed by the governor, but no one really wanted to discuss it Thursday, and Guinn was too busy attending a fund-raiser with House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, to comment.

Races switched

When Republican Luis Valera officially announced his bid for the state Assembly this week, a collective sigh of relief was heard throughout the local GOP establishment.

Originally, Valera was going to run for the Assembly District 21 seat being vacated by Sandra Tiffany, who is running for state Senate. But fellow Republican Walter Andonov was also running there, and neither man would budge.

That's until Valera saw the demographics of Assembly District 17 -- technically an open seat, but one that Democratic incumbent Bob Price plans to move back into after he was drawn out during redistricting.

"That open seat actually helps Luis because of his Hispanic heritage," GOP consultant Chuck Muth said.

Valera, a financial adviser who is attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas law school, is a former staffer of now-Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.

He is also president of the Republican Hispanic Assembly and a board member of the Latin Chamber of Commerce.