Columnist Jon Ralston: Herrera is living on the edge

Friday, March 1, 2002 | 4:29 a.m.

Can Reckless Boy (aka County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera) stay on course for the next eight months (or even 60 days) so Dad (aka Harry Reid) doesn't have to look for someone else to play in this game? And can Bland Man (aka state Sen. Jon Porter) say nothing (or nothing of substance or note) for an entire campaign, hoping his opponent self-destructs and watching from the sidelines without ever having to compete?

Democratic insiders -- all those except potential congressional candidates waiting like vultures for his demise -- range from wary to petrified about Herrera, who recently has appeared in stories about an ethics commission complaint, a juicy government contract and his "everybody does it" defense for trying to help a neighbor become a firefighter.

Yes, Herrera also has grabbed onto Mayor Oscar Goodman's garments for news conferences on Yucca Mountain, mouthed off about Nevada Power's rate increase and horned in on the gamers' dump news event, too. But Democrats -- including Reid -- fret that as Republicans eagerly ensure the bad stories get circulated in Washington, the good that Herrera brings to the race will be interred with his political carcass.

And as Herrera chews up scenery, Porter can sit back and enjoy his opponent's bumpy ride. He doesn't have to say anything -- and he isn't.

Herrera has only himself to blame for creating the atmosphere for this speculation about his viability to occur. He's young, he's brash, he's a headline hog. And he has political talents that often are Clintonesque, with an unerring antenna for resonant issues and a smooth, if not occasionally glib and smarmy, way of answering or parrying questions.

He's good at being a politician and Reid and other Democrats know that. But he's very bad at being careful. And no matter how skillful you are, eventually you will get caught. Just ask Bill Clinton.

Look at what Herrera has done in just the last few months:

When the ordinance first came before commissioners on May 2 last year, Herrera was told by Deputy District Attorney Rob Warhola: "We're recommending that you abstain on this just because we err on the side of caution."

But then on Dec. 5, when Herrera cast the much-needed deciding vote for the industry-penned ordinance, the commissioner said: "I must disclose for the record that my wife works for a billboard company; however, because it's a countywide ordinance, you've advised me that I'm OK to vote. Is that still your opinion?"

And Warhola responded: "Yes, it is."

Herrera made the disclosure and the district attorney flip-flopped only after the chairman guided the entire lengthy discussion and then cast the tie-breaking vote on an ordinance other commissioners lamented was being jammed through. Later I asked Herrera for a copy of the district attorney's opinion. There wasn't one. But by Jan. 9, after the ethics complaint was filed, there sure was and it was weak.

Here's the bottom line: The ordinance created more opportunities for billboards to be erected. And if his wife helps billboard applicants get through the system, well, you can figure this one out, even if the ethics panel couldn't.

Why a government official is seeking government contracts is just one issue. But why this was done without the knowledge of at least some of the board members is even more suspicious. And, finally, why the authority needs to pay Herrera $3,500 a month for public relations has never been clearly defined.

In the end, Reckless Boy might be able to surmount this drip-drip-drip of headlines about his behavior. He might even be able to cause serious political damage to Porter because of the GOP-led Yucca Mountain acceleration project. But Herrera is causing his supporters a lot of angst and Porter's camp a lot of glee these days.

Isn't that right, Bland Man? Bland Man? Are you there?