Columnist Jeff German: Nolan wins one for the Little Guy

Friday, Sept. 6, 2002 | 5:35 a.m.

IT'S UPLIFTING watching the Little Guy beat the odds in the world of politics.

Dennis Nolan is a four-term Republican assemblyman who is well respected by his colleagues at the Legislature. You wouldn't expect the 41-year-old former paramedic to be the underdog in his bid for higher office at the state Senate.

But then you also wouldn't expect the powers that be in his own party to persuade longtime gaming lobbyist Richard Bunker, a chum of Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, to run against Nolan in the GOP primary.

Once Bunker jumped into the race, Nolan's Republican friends in Carson City and Las Vegas suddenly disappeared. So did his sources of funding. He was only able to raise $85,000 for the race compared to Bunker's $214,000.

The 68-year-old Bunker, a certified member of the Big Boys Club, seemed to have everything going his way heading into Tuesday's primary election in Senate District 9.

He had an established family name, an incredible resume built around years of experience in and around government, big-money backing, friends in high places, key GOP endorsements and a political machine anchored by premier strategist Billy Vassiliadis.

Nolan, who ran his own campaign from his home, had a reputation as a hard-working elected official who connected with his constituents. He reached out to those constituents during the campaign.

Bunker relied more on his high-powered political connections, the result of stints as county manager, Gaming Control Board chairman and president of the Nevada Resort Association, the casino industry's influential political arm.

His connections appeared to pay off as election night approached.

Gov. Kenny Guinn's Washington-based pollster, Glen Bolger, did a poll for Bunker that showed him with a whopping 30-point lead over Nolan.

No one gave Nolan a chance, even though they knew he previously had been elected to the Assembly four times by voters in the district.

Vassiliadis was so comfortable with the poll results that he pulled television ads and mailers touting Bunker's qualifications the last two weeks of the campaign, preferring to save the money for an anticipated tough general election battle with Democrat Terry Lamuraglia.

That was a mistake, and Vassiliadis now acknowledges it.

When the ballots were counted Tuesday night, the ultimate political insider lost by 147 votes.

The news sent the arrogant Las Vegas establishment into shock.

"My guess is Bunker counted his money and his supporters and did not do all of his work," says Ted Jelen, who chairs the political science department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

In other words, Bunker thought that the Big Boys had taken care of business for him, and he could coast to a primary victory.

Nolan, on the other hand, took nothing for granted.

He was a workhorse the last two weeks of the race. Undaunted by the power and muscle of the movers and shakers backing Bunker, he campaigned the only way he could. He pounded the streets.

While Bunker and Vassiliadis relaxed, Nolan walked neighborhoods and stood on street corners chatting with potential voters in 100-degree temperatures.

"We just took the ball, put our head down and ran," Nolan says. "We were in it to win."

Whether Nolan now has momentum going into November's general election against Lamuraglia remains to be seen.

But Nolan can feel good about giving the Big Boys a lesson in grass-roots campaigning.

Joe Brezny, executive director of the Senate Republican Caucus, which endorsed Bunker, understands what happened here.

"This just proves what is pretty common knowledge," he says. "Money doesn't buy local elections. You can't beat shoe leather."

Indeed.

Bunker, Vassiliadis and other members of the Big Boys Club lost this race because they forgot that in a democracy people, not money, matter the most.

You have to reach out to the voters and listen to their concerns. You have to show them that you care. You have to earn their vote.

When you do these things, the odds are you're going to be a winner like Nolan.