Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Picketing, state budgets, ‘Frida’ and respectful children

Friday, Nov. 22, 2002 | 2:01 a.m.

The Henderson City Council discussing the problems people see with pickets at residences brought back some memories.

Not everybody was happy with some of my actions as governor. One morning a large group of people was picketing outside the governor's residence. When it came time to go home for lunch I expected to see the mansion surrounded. I drove up and not a soul was in sight but dozens of picket signs were on the porch.

I entered through the kitchen door and found people drinking coffee and hot chocolate while eating lunch. One of them gave me a cheerful greeting. Carolyn, my wife, saw me and said, "They came all the way from Las Vegas and it's cold outside." That was the one and only time we had pickets around the governor's mansion during our eight years in residence.

The governor's residence is state property and some picketing from time to time should be expected. This shouldn't be accepted as a practice when a private home in a neighborhood is the target. If city or company policies have excited people enough to result in picketing, then they should do it at the place of work. The target's kids and neighbors shouldn't be subject to the abuse that some picketers bring with them.

When recalling my days in Carson City, I also remember the Arab oil embargo that almost drained the state treasury in the 1970s. There was no relief from Washington, D.C., and we had to bail ourselves out of that economic problem.

The governors of the several states are going to find themselves with similar problems during the coming months. As the federal government reduces services, the problems will fall on the shoulders of governors with shrinking bank accounts. States, unlike the national government, can't run in the red, overspend budgets and print more money.

While presidents and members of Congress can give tax breaks to large corporations and the wealthy, the cost will have to be paid by the states. Governors and state legislators should know what rolls down hill and if they don't, they will soon learn.

Several phone calls have come into my office complaining about "Frida." No, she isn't a local girl gone bad. According to the callers, "Frida" isn't the kind of movie you want to attend with your children. Nevertheless, a couple of theaters haven't required adult identification for admittance.

I haven't seen "Frida" and don't have any plans to view it. One caller, a very irate mother, said she took her two children to the movie and all three left and didn't receive a refund at a Las Vegas hotel theater. What also bothered her was the number of parents who had dropped their kids off and left them in the theater.

"Frida" must be a hot item because a Henderson theater showing it requires adult identification. Theaters that allow kids of all ages to buy tickets and see "Frida" certainly don't show much class.

"Have you seen 'Frida'?" was the beginning of one conversation. Heck, I hadn't even heard of "Frida" and because of its title probably wouldn't think it was a movie with problems for families.

Why am I writing about "Frida"? Just to let responsible parents know that it might not be the kind of movie you want your kids to attend.

The Friday before Veterans Day I spoke to 1,100 students in Reno. It was a program put together by the students of Billinghurst Middle School. They did an outstanding job with music, poetry and flag demonstrations for their Veterans Day assembly. When the assembly ended they gave paper roses to two of their teachers, a man and a woman who are military veterans, and me.

What impressed me the most was the conduct of these young people during the entire 55 minutes. Even during my 20-minute talk, their attention and conduct was exceptional and certainly better than any adult group of equal numbers.

It was a most rewarding trip despite the 12 hours spent at the Reno airport because of heavy storms hitting that area.

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