Columnist Erin Neff: Nevada newsmakers include many wacky characters

Erin Neff

Friday, Oct. 18, 2002 | 6:06 a.m.

SOME OF Nevada's newsmakers could easily comprise an all-star team of wackiness.

While most voters heading to the polls for the next two weeks look for serious candidates who will be careful stewards of Nevada's government, there is no shortage of the kind of candidates -- who if elected -- would be prime-time newsmakers.

Sure character counts, but in Nevada, so too do characters.

How else to explain Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's soaring popularity amid his gin pitching and shoot-from-the-hip style?

Take a look down the ballot. If you were to choose an all-state team based on the Oscar Goodman test (Will the candidate provide plenty to talk about -- and not necessarily political talk) this could be a hall of fame class.

At the top of the ticket is Democrat Joe Neal, who while he doesn't stand a chance, does stand on his own.

What you see is what you get, 10-gallon white cowboy hat and all. The state senator wouldn't consult polls and certainly wouldn't care about what gaming or his party wanted.

The lieutenant governor's office would be a toss-up.

Democrat Erin Kenny would be a good choice for lieutenant governor, because with Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn waltzing to re-election, Guinn might be afraid to leave his office.

And, Kenny has never been known to be shy with her opinions. In her tenure on the commission, she garnered plenty of headlines by trying to ban handheld cellphone use while driving and trying to block Wal-Mart superstores.

Then again, how can you go wrong with the incumbent? Former lounge singer Lorraine Hunt -- owner of a restaurant and regular karaoke singer -- would sing her way through the legislative session as she does through interviews, all the while planning tourism from here to the moon.

In the 3rd Congressional District, Dario Herrera would be the clear choice -- not just because of his recent struggles, but because at 29, there is plenty of raw ambition to put him on a track for higher things.

We've already seen what Washington, D.C. can do to people like that.

Just as Sen. Harry Reid puts Nevada on the political map as Assistant Majority Leader, so too, would Lynette Boggs McDonald as the only black Republican -- and first black GOP woman -- in the House of Representatives.

There's no doubt Boggs McDonald would also make news other ways.

She'd make the Sunday talk show circuit routinely, and who knows, might even take on some of the good old boys in D.C. (She certainly didn't mince words about Las Vegas City Council colleague Larry Brown when she last invoked the Old Testament in public).

You don't have to look too far into the third parties to find the real characters, not all of whom are named Hansen.

But the Independent American Party Hansen who turns 18 just before Election Day, Nicholas, could be fun to watch as Henderson Township Constable. He wasn't afraid to take his right to be on the ballot to the Supreme Court, so serving papers would be a cinch in the Scottish knight kilt he wore to the recent Renaissance Fair.

Then there's the Libertarian Party's big hope -- Assembly 28 candidate James Dan, an Asian American. He's even learned Spanish for this run. And maybe, just maybe when Dan caucuses in Carson City, he'd let the press come in. It wouldn't take a big room.

And then there are the questions.

There's really no question about No. 9 -- a yes vote would serve up two more years of drawling Texan Billy Rogers, an imported character, but one nonetheless. And it would draw the nation's attention to boot.

But Question 2 provides a dilemma. Which fringe group do you go with? Ultra conservatives who don't like gays or extreme liberals who allegedly can't help vandalizing campaign signs.

So, if you're struggling with the size of that sample ballot and thinking of hitting an early voting site today, you can look for some of the characters to help you make it through.