Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Political notebook: Website wrangling stirs up campaigns

If imitation is the best form of flattery, than Democrats have struck on a good way to ask for money.

A number of Democrats who hired Las Vegas-based VarTek Unlimited to host their websites, suffered for a time from an attack of the clones -- at least in the section begging for contributions.

To wit: "One of the things I find hardest to do is ask for campaign contributions. Yet in this day and age it is impossible for me to personally meet with the registered voters in Clark County. To reach them with my message, I must receive enough in contributions to get that message out."

That's how Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning, Assembly candidates Kristen Hansen, Mel Kalagian and Kelvin Atkinson and County Commissioner Myrna Williams asked for cash. Attorney general candidate John Hunt added the words "over 600,000" before registered voters since he's running statewide.

The language may have been boilerplate, but it burned up one political consultant who claimed his candidate's website was ripped off.

Gary Gray, who is consulting on District Court candidate David Wall's campaign, claimed in a press release that Chowning had plagiarized Wall.

"This is amazing to me because I haven't even seen David Wall's website," Chowning said.

After signing off on the design of her site, Chowning never thought other candidates were using the same language. But when the Sun brought the controversy to her attention, she immediately asked VarTek to change the site.

"I am taking full responsibility for it," VarTek webmaster Michael Vargas said after deleting the contribution sections on all of his clients' websites.

Vargas said he didn't think he was copying anybody.

Wall's site was crafted by Las Vegas Web Works, and Gray contends it was his consulting firm that wrote the language for the contribution section.

In addition to having Wall as a client, Gray is also consulting on Moises Denis' campaign for Chowning's Assembly seat. And Gray is also the husband of Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani -- one of the Democrats in charge of the redistricting plan that drew Chowning out of her district and forced her to move to seek re-election.

NSEA endorsements

Nevada's teacher's union issued its endorsements for statewide office this week, sticking largely to the Democrats, but also throwing a few bones to Republicans.

The Nevada State Education Association endorsed Democrats Erin Kenny for lieutenant governor and John Hunt for attorney general, but endorsed Republican state Treasurer Brian Krolicki for re-election.

The union had previously endorsed Gov. Kenny Guinn, a Republican, for re-election.

The NSEA also endorsed William Maupin for re-election to the Nevada Supreme Court.

In the open state Senate races, the union endorsed Democrats John Hawk in District 5, Kristen Hansen in District 8, Terry Lamuraglia in District 9 and Republican Warren Hardy in District 12. Democrat Joe Carter was endorsed over state Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, the author of Nevada's charter school law and a proponent of school vouchers.

NSEA endorsed all incumbent Assembly members of both parties and offered the following endorsements in open seats: Peggy Pierce, District 3; John Ellerton, District 5; Michael Slater, District 13; Gene Segerblom, District 20; Walter Andonov, District 21; Josh Griffin, District 29; William Horne, District 34; and Marcus Conklin, District 37. Andonov and Griffin are Republicans. The others are all Democrats.

Edwards out, Daschle in?

Nevadans already looking ahead to the 2004 presidential election as a way to get back at George W. Bush for Yucca Mountain will have one less option.

One Democrat hyped for his moderate stances (not to mention his personal wealth) -- Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina -- took himself out of the running here by voting for Yucca Mountain on Tuesday.

Democrats in Nevada still have two leftovers from 2000 in Al Gore and Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., but may have found their best anti-Yucca candidate in Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Besides, if Daschle would win -- he said Wednesday on Face to Face with Jon Ralston -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., would be the "front-runner" to become the next Senate Majority Leader.

From Spears to Sandoval

Former Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole, will take a break from his popular shilling for Pepsi to raise some money for attorney general candidate Brian Sandoval today.

Dole, the former senator from Kansas, will speak at a luncheon at the MGM Grand Mansion, expected to raise $10,000.

Sandoval, a Republican and former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, is running against Democrat John Hunt, and this week picked up an endorsement from the Nevada Corrections Association.

Dole has remained a popular figure, in part thanks to his ads for Pepsi featuring Britney Spears, and the unrelated ones for Viagra.

Speaking of stimulation

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman once tried to jump start the post 9/11 economy by saying all able-bodied citizens should go out and have a lap dance.

So what does he think about Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates' attempts to ban touching of clients by the exotic dancers?

At his press conference Thursday, Goodman said he didn't know what difference the proposed ordinance would have.

"I've never had a lap dance," he deadpanned.

He also feigned ignorance about G-string underwear.

Watts and Boggs McDonald

Lynette Boggs McDonald has been trying to be the first Republican black woman elected to the House of Representatives.

But with Rep. J.C. Watts' decision not to seek re-election, she now stands to be the only black House Republican of either gender.

Perhaps for some inspiration, but more importantly for some cash -- Watts will headline a fund-raiser for Boggs McDonald on Saturday at The Venetian.

Watts, R-Okla., will speak at the $250-per-person event in the Marco Polo Room from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Information: Call 947-2002.

For the record

Congressional candidate Dario Herrera and state controller candidate John Lee will speak at the next $5 dinner of the Paradise Democratic Club of Las Vegas on July 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Culinary Training Center, 707 E. Fremont St. For information call 363-2456.

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