Columnist Jeff German: DA hits ‘sex trade’ for boost in race

Friday, May 3, 2002 | 3:34 a.m.

THE TELEVISION CAMERAS were rolling last week as Assistant District Attorney Mike Davidson launched an election year assault on an old, battle-hardened enemy -- the sexually oriented outcall service industry.

"It's our obligation to make life as hard for these clowns as we can possibly make it," a tough-talking Davidson told reporters.

He was referring to the operators of the 136 licensed outcall services, which Davidson called fronts for prostitution.

"The answer is not to regulate them," Davidson continued in a firm voice, as the cameras zeroed in. "The answer is to put them out of business."

His words made sense. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that sex is for sale within the outcall service industry. Cops are busting outcall dancers for prostitution every week on the Strip.

But Davidson would have had more credibility on this subject if he wasn't campaigning on the Democratic ticket to succeed his boss and former law partner, District Attorney Stewart Bell.

Davidson, who has little name recognition with the voters, obviously was acting on political advice to drum up publicity for himself in a race against two more widely known prosecutors battling it out in the Republican primary, David Roger and Abby Silver.

Is there a better way to make news than to attack those who supposedly pose as shills for prostitution?

What was surprising about the news conference was Bell's willing participation.

It was uncharacteristic of the straight-laced Bell to let his top assistant use the power of the district attorney's office for political gain. It was an indication of how strongly Bell wants Davidson to be elected in his place.

Bell, who happens to be campaigning for a district judge seat, sat quietly behind Davidson as his trusted assistant railed away at the outcall service industry.

A media advisory Davidson sent out the day before the news conference predicted that county commissioners, health district officials and state lawmakers would be on hand to talk about this "multi-front war" on the outcall services.

In the end, only County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera, a Democratic congressional candidate who never misses a photo opportunity, joined Bell and Davidson in the bashing. But Herrera, who pledged his total support for the so-called crackdown, only showed up after a reporter informed him of the news conference the previous day.

Davidson also received tacit backing from a couple of vice cops who stood in the back of the room out of the view of the cameras.

But among those who resisted taking part in the news conference was Deputy Chief Bill Young, a Republican running for sheriff. Young, maybe recognizing that the gathering was nothing more than a campaign stunt, opted to be in Laughlin that day on real police business sorting out last weekend's deadly motorcycle melee.

As for the "multi-front war," the best Davidson could do was announce he was seeking a "moratorium" on licensing future outcall services. That sounded more like a kick to the shins than an all-out nuclear attack.

Davidson, however, said his ultimate goal is to come up with a law to ban outcall services. But there's no reason to believe he'll be any more successful in that endeavor than others before him who have tried and failed.

The outcall service operators, who deny being fronts for prostitution, are armed with the best legal talent available to fend off this new election-year attack in court. They believe they have the First Amendment on their side.

Vince Bartello, the area's largest operator, made it clear that he's ready to go to the mat to defend his livelihood.

That means Davidson's campaign ploy has potential to backfire.

Whoever comes out of the Republican primary, Roger or Silver, might have a lot of ammunition if the assault on prostitution and the outcall service industry fizzles.

And that could make political life hard for Davidson come election time.