Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Missing candidates’ familiarity

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, May 30, 2002 | 8:17 a.m.

The last day for candidates to file for public office is past.

Years ago I knew almost everyone who had the courage to toss their hats into the political arena. I could make decisions based on personal knowledge of the candidate.

Not so today. With so many new names, I will have to depend somewhat on the information provided by the media. That is not always fair. Lesser-known candidates are usually shunted to one side as the spotlight is shone on incumbents or front-runners.

Both parties will be grounding out propaganda to support their chosen ones. Independent parties, on the ballot more or less to make a statement, are generally given short shrift by the media.

Whatever the motivation, I have the greatest respect for anyone who takes on the difficult and thankless task of running for public office.

I remember an old friend who once filed, only because the incumbent had no opposition.

"No one should get a free ride," he claimed.

He didn't campaign or make much of an effort to win. However, he received several hundred votes.

"It let my opponent know that there were some voters who disagreed with his policies," he explained.

Running for public office is costly, both financially and emotionally. Those hardy souls who choose to enter the political arena deserve the gratitude of the voters. They are giving us choices.

From here on, it's full speed ahead.

We've all heard the expression, "All politicians are crooked."

I never believed it and I offer retiring state Assemblyman Joe Dini as proof.

I admit to some prejudice. Dini represents my hometown of Yerington. He has been in office 36 years, during which he has distinguished himself as a man of integrity and fairness.

Dini served under six governors: Paul Laxalt, Mike O'Callaghan, Robert List, Richard Bryan, Bob Miller and Kenny Guinn.

Dini has always been a staunch spokesman for Nevada's rural communities. I would hope some historian -- at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, perhaps -- would get Joe Dini on tape, as his knowledge of our state is incomparable.

The ongoing brouhaha over the smut peddlers on the Strip reminds me of the time my husband and I were in Bangkok, Thailand.

I wanted to see the silk weavers, so we set out in a cab. The driver asked Jim if he wanted to go with him instead, as the weaving of silk wasn't very "exciting." He tossed a medium-size brochure into Jim's lap and told him to take his choice, and while I was visiting the silk factory he would show Jim some real fun.

The brochure was filled with very revealing pictures of young girls. Each had a name and number. The driver told Jim to pick a number.

Needless to say, Jim visited the silk factories with me.

I wonder if any of the Las Vegas porno peddlers ever drove cabs in Bangkok?

Whenever I see an anti-American demonstration in a foreign land and angry people carrying banners reading, "Yankee, go home," I wonder why we don't.