Hunt joins campaign for AG

Erin Neff

Thursday, March 28, 2002 | 9:09 a.m.

Las Vegas attorney John Hunt formally announced his bid for attorney general today, saying his experience as a trial lawyer makes him a better candidate to protect the state in the Yucca Mountain fight.

"Nevada does not need just another empty suit with a nice smile and no experience," Hunt said, flanked by the state's leading Democrats on the steps of the George Federal Building downtown.

Hunt said he announced his candidacy at the courthouse because as attorney general he would personally fight the federal government in court.

"We need a general," Hunt added, "not an administrator."

Hunt enters the race months later and hundreds of thousands of dollars behind Republican candidate Brian Sandoval, a Reno attorney and former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

But Democrats are convinced Hunt can beat the rising Republican star.

"Six weeks ago when he first began discussing doing this, $75,000 poured in," said state Democratic Party Chairman Terry Care. "He will be able to raise money. He's going to do just fine."

Hunt's campaign manager, Dan Hart, said Hunt has more than $100,000 for the race. Sandoval has nearly $600,000 in the bank.

"This is a quality candidate," U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. "This is not a catch-up race."

On the steps of the courthouse, Hunt was joined by Reid, former Gov. Bob Miller, former Sen. Richard Bryan, Clark County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins and former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian.

Hunt nervously fumbled when thanking Nevada AFL-CIO President Danny Thompson for joining him, calling him "Danny Tomlanson," causing several pundits to giggle due to an icy relationship Hunt has with the Culinary Union.

But Hunt downplayed any rumored lack of support from organized labor as Teamsters Union members chimed in to announce their presence and a Culinary worker stepped forward to say the union was standing behind him.

"I plan to work with all working men and women," Hunt said. "The only thing (Sandoval) can have for working class people is sympathy. I have empathy."

The son of a textile mill worker and shoe shop owner, Hunt said he will be able to look rank-and-file union members in the eye and tell them he's just like the kids they want to put through college.

"I'm it," he said.

Thompson pledged the support of his unions in getting 300,000 voters to the polls for Hunt. Culinary brass were not at the press conference.

Hunt challenged Sandoval to return campaign contributions he has received from nuclear power lobbyists. Sandoval has received $500 from former Gov. Robert List, a lobbyist for the Nuclear Energy Institute.

"I am on record when I was in the Legislature as voting against the dump," Sandoval said. "In terms of the contribution, Gov. List approached me and said he wanted to contribute to him personally."

Sandoval said he told List he disagrees with his Yucca position and as attorney general plans to defeat him. He said he will not give the money back.