Political notebook: Nicknames adding spice to Primary Election ballot

Erin Neff

Friday, June 7, 2002 | 9:14 a.m.

Nicknames have appeared on ballots as long as Michael and Robert have preferred Mike and Bobby.

But this fall, voters will get more than the traditional sobriquets.

In the 1st Congressional District alone voters will see Steven "Capt. Truth" Dempsey and Alfred "Bus Driver" Ordunez.

Ordunez, a Republican vying for his party's nomination with Lynette Boggs McDonald, is in fact a bus driver. And, he is on strike.

He said listening to the concerns of people who ride the bus prompted him to run on a repeal-all-taxes plank. No capital gains. No estate. No income taxes. Maybe his moniker should be Alfred "No Tax" Ordunez.

The truth is still out there about Dempsey, an Independent American candidate who could not be reached.

Robert "Stickerman" Winquist, a Natural Law candidate for the 2nd Congressional District, is also not ready to discuss his ballot name.

But J. "Buffalo Jim" Barrier is not shy about the name he put on the ballot for Assembly District 14. In fact in his case, his real name -- James C. Barrier -- might sound more unusual to locals.

"I'd be crazy not to list 'Buffalo Jim' on the ballot," said the auto shop owner and professional wrestler with buffalo-thick hair and beard, who trots a mechanical buffalo all over town to make a variety of points.

Not only will the buffalo be campaigning with him, but Barrier thinks it should be the official animal of his Independent American party.

"Gina C." Cinquegrani chose her nickname because people were butchering her last name when she began talking about her bid to be Clark County public administrator.

"When I was first running, people would say, 'Huh?' or 'Can you say that slower?' " said Cinquegrani (pronounced sink-uh-granny).

She said she also thinks nicknames stick out on the ballot and help people tie a person to a name. Her favorite, she admits, is Frank "Full-Time" Mahoney, a Democrat running for Henderson Township constable.

Mahoney, a retired Westchester County, N.Y., police officer, said his nickname is designed to make a statement about the incumbent, Earl T. Mitchell.

"It means that the constable that's in there now is a policeman also, so I don't know how he can be working full-time as a policeman and full-time as a constable," Mahoney said. "I would be a full-time constable."

As long as personal favorites are being included, the Sun picks William "Wild Bill" Hamma, a Democrat from Reno running for secretary of state.

Hamma got the nickname while student body president at the University of Nevada, Reno in the early 1980s. He said that fewer people know him as William than as Wild Bill, but admits that few people know him by either name anymore.

A retired customer service representative, Hamma said he's running because "we need a Democrat" in the race. But he said he's not sure if the name will get him any votes. "You never know," he said.

Endorsements abound

Endorsement season is now in full force, with organizations coming out to hype the candidates of their choice.

Rory Reid, a Democrat running for Clark County Commission District G, received the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union this week. No surprise given his dad's (Sen. Harry Reid) labor support.

District Judge Gene Porter won two prized law enforcement endorsements in his re-election bid when the Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs and the Las Vegas Police Protective Association Civilian Employees both came out in his favor.

Chief Deputy District Attorney David Roger also got some help this week in his bid for district attorney, picking up endorsements from the two organizations representing the office's employees. Roger got the nod from the SEIU and the Clark County District Attorney's Investigators Association.

He also raised about $25,000 Wednesday night at a fund-raiser held at Texas Station and picked up an endorsement from the conservative Nevada Concerned Citizens.

Roger's opponent in the Republican primary, Abbi Silver -- also a chief deputy district attorney -- was recently endorsed by Republican Sen. John Ensign.

Porter goes country

Jon Porter first tapped the country's biggest political hero and now is going a little bit country to win support for his congressional bid.

The Gatlin Brothers will hold a reception for Porter's bid for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District. The concert will be held June 22 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at The Railhead at Boulder Station.

Tickets are $50 and can be purchased through the hotel by calling Lindsey McQueen at 839-2002.

The concert comes a month after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani stumped for Porter in a breakfast fund-raiser netting about $30,000.

Equal Time in CD3

Just to allow a little equal time to Porter's opponent, Democrat Dario Herrera, here's a sample of the comments he made Thursday during an interview on DayOne Las Vegas.

Herrera and his wife, Emily, were featured as part of the program's "power couple" segment.

So the loving pair discussed how they met at a birthday party, were married six months later and now juggle their schedules to spend time with each other in between campaign events and work.

Before announcing he was running for Congress, Herrera said he talked with Emily about it, and determined "it's a good opportunity for my family."

For the record

A dessert benefit will be held for all Republican candidates Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Malibu Chan's, 8125 W. Sahara Ave. Cost is $25, with proceeds benefiting Republican candidates. Candidates can attend for free. For information or tickets, call 363-4470.