Political notebook: Goodman once again makes it clear he backs Berkley

Erin Neff

Friday, Oct. 4, 2002 | 9:44 a.m.

Goodman hypes Berkley

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman proudly jumped out early to support fellow Democrat Shelley Berkley's re-election to Congress.

But when his council colleague Lynette Boggs McDonald, a Republican, entered the race Goodman promised to stay neutral.

That didn't last long, with Berkley asking Hissoner to support her.

On Thursday the endorsement began anew with Goodman appearing in a television commercial for Berkley and hugging her under the Fremont Street Experience canopy as she says: "Thanks, Oscar."

Boggs McDonald has tried to lure other Democrats to her side in a district that has about 30,000 more Democrats than Republican voters.

On Thursday, state Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, said for the first time that he is not only endorsing Boggs McDonald because she helped build a new church for their parish, but because he disagrees with Berkley.

Neal said he was not pleased when Berkley quit the Small Business Committee to become a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. And he said during an editorial board meeting with the Sun, that he also opposed her stance on a bankruptcy reform bill because of the possibility that it will end up hurting groups like the National for the Advancement of Colored People.

Neal and Goodman do have one thing in common besides their party. Goodman toyed for a year with a run at Gov. Kenny Guinn, and Neal is actually on the ballot in that role.

Hyperbole watch

It's hard enough running for office without being subjected to endorsement interviews, debates and candidate forums.

So, it's easy enough to forgive misstatements during heated public sessions.

But Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt wins this week's hyperbole award for her comments about being separated from Gov. Kenny Guinn on Sept. 11, 2001.

Nevada Highway Patrol troopers came to her home to pick her up and drive her to a secure location a la Dick Cheney. She told a crowd at Wednesday's Charleston Neighborhood Group that moving to a secure location would catch anyone off guard.

"You don't know when or if you'll see your family again," Hunt said.

Surfin' CD3

Congressional candidate Dario Herrera is fond of telling potential voters that they can compare him with Republican Jon Porter by examining the two candidates' websites.

Well, a recent glance at Porter's found not too much about the issues, but did see the campaign's most important item misspelled as "John" Porter. The site was down for a while until a local pundit spread word of the gaffe in an electronic newsletter.

Now it's error free and complete with thumbnails on the issues.

Herrera doesn't tell you his opponent is at porter2002.com. And, if you don't know that address and try jonporter.org, you'll get zapped right to darioherreraforcongress.com.

Most of Herrera's domain names were previously scooped up by Porter backers. Without knowing the site addresses, you surf at your own risk.

Registration ends

If you've been moved to vote for one of the questions on November's ballots, or if you feel strongly about a certain candidate, you'd better make sure you're registered to vote.

Registration ends Saturday for voting in the Nov. 5 general election.

The Clark County Election Department will be open to accept applications all day Saturday. Call 455-VOTE for information.

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