Nolan revels in victory in Senate District 9

Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2002 | 11:21 a.m.

Las Vegas Assemblyman Dennis Nolan late Tuesday called his Republican primary upset of high-powered gaming lobbyist Richard Bunker in Senate District 9 a victory for the little guy.

Nolan garnered 4,421 votes, or 50.9 percent, to Bunker's 4,274.

"They voted for the little guy in this one," Nolan said.

"I just had a great team of volunteers and people who busted their butts for me, and that's what made the difference."

Nolan, a four-term assemblyman from Las Vegas, was considered the underdog in the race with Bunker, a longtime political mover and shaker who had outspent Nolan nearly 4-1 and won the backing of Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno.

Nolan, 41, incurred Raggio's wrath last December when he suggested the majority leader give up his powerful post at the 2003 Legislature to a Republican from the larger population base of Southern Nevada.

Joe Brezny, executive director of the Raggio-controlled Senate Republican Caucus that endorsed Bunker, called Nolan "the comeback kid."

"He has earned every inch of this victory," Brezny said. "He's been working like crazy."

Bunker, 68, who has spent more than 30 years in politics and government service, said he was disappointed with his 147-vote loss, but felt good about the campaign he ran.

"We worked hard and did everything we were supposed to do," he said.

Brezny said the Republican caucus now planned to back Nolan in the general election against Democrat Terry Lamuraglia, a former Clark County lobbyist, and Independent American candidate John Lusk.

"The caucus will do anything and everything in its power to ensure that Dennis Nolan is in Carson City in the spring," Brezny said.

Democrats, who need to capture two seats to gain control of the Senate, are poised to make a run at the District 9 seat, which is being vacated by Sen. Bill O'Donnell, R-Las Vegas, another political thorn in Raggio's side.

"I think we can win that seat," Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas said.

"The other side must be in shock. Maybe the gaming industry's anointment doesn't work as well as it should."

Bunker, who chairs the state's Colorado River Commission, is a former Gaming Control Board chairman and a former president and chief lobbyist for the Nevada Resort Association, the casino industry's political arm.

Raggio and the Senate Republican Caucus originally endorsed former Las Vegas Assemblyman Bill Brady over Nolan in the GOP primary, shutting off important fund-raising sources for Nolan early in the race.

But Brady later withdrew, which allowed Bunker, a longtime Raggio friend, to enter the fray.