VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Herrera campaign run to end in a tie

Friday, Sept. 27, 2002 | 9:54 a.m.

It may be a grueling ride down the campaign trail for Dario Herrera in his race against Jon Porter to represent the 3rd Congressional District.

Especially with the relentless flow of attack ads flooding the airwaves, sometimes back-to-back.

But despite the mudslinging, Herrera is looking pretty sharp -- on the fashion front, at least.

In mid-June, Herrera's home was burglarized. Among the items missing were approximately 50 of his neckties.

So on Herrera's June 27 birthday, many of his staffers gave him new neckwear. Since then Herrera has received additional neckties from supporters while campaigning.

Herrera was sporting a flashy Salvatore Ferragamo print tie while watching the primary returns this month.

When the Sun's ace political scribe Erin Neff teased Herrera and asked him where his donkey tie was, Herrera grinned and extended his arm -- flashing some very Democratic cuff links.

Sad song

Longtime bandleader Buddy Greco and his wife, Lezlie Anders, have filed for bankruptcy.

According to a Chapter 7 petition filed Sept. 17 in the Las Vegas Division of U.S. Bankruptcy Court, their assets are limited to their Rancho Destina home (valued at $350,000) and $41,273 in property, including a 1983 Nissan pickup truck valued at $400.

That includes "cash on hand" of $55. No typo there.

No value was placed on the items on Line 29 in the petition: "Animals -- 6 dogs, a donkey, a horse and chickens."

On the other side of the ledger are "estimated debts between $500,000 and $1 million."

That includes outstanding items from American Express, several Visa and MasterCard issuers, Chevron, the Spiegel catalog, Home Depot, Macy's, Texaco, Whirlpool, personal loans from five friends and a $96,000 tab from the Internal Revenue Service.

Anders claims no current income; Greco gets a $1,651 monthly Social Security check and $6,000 in "performance income."

Also, his website, buddy-greco.com, has been down for at least several days.

Greco, who turned 76 on Aug. 14, is well known for his legendary jazz piano arrangements, more than 60 albums and career-defining collaborations with Benny Goodman.

Cookin' good

Another day, another notable chef comes to town.

Alan Morgan, one of the country's leading American Indian chefs, recently joined Roy's on East Flamingo Road. He had been in Delray Beach, Fla.

Roy's is also hosting a lunch for Las Vegas Life magazine's Epicurean Awards on Wednesday.

Like a hurricane

Swear at it or swear by it, "Baywatch" is a force of nature.

It officially touches down in Las Vegas on Saturday with the launch party for the Baywatch Beach Club Cafe and Event Venue at Flamingo Las Vegas.

One of the highlights of the event should be the limbo showdown between some Baywatch women (but probably not Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Carmen Electra or Gena Lee Nolan) and "The Cast of Playgirl."

That, or the giant pig roast.

Real vandalism

Lucky for the Palms that Frank Roessler, one of the "Real World Las Vegas" cast members, wasn't up to his old tricks when he stayed in the hotel's posh suite.

According to the Smoking Gun website, thesmokinggun.com, the 22-year-old was convicted last year of criminal mischief after vandalizing two fraternity houses at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., where he was a student.

At Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Roessler and a friend caused a variety of damage, including broken doors and windows. Then they "tore a toilet off its foundation" and left behind "two fresh piles of feces," according to a police report.

Charged in a five-count criminal indictment, Roessler pleaded guilty in June 2001 and was sentenced to two years probation, fined $1,000 and forced to pay the school restitution.

Roessler was on probation at the time he lived at the Palms for the filming of the MTV reality series, now being broadcast Tuesday nights.

"Real World" publicist Allison Bennett dismissed the incident as a prank.

It wasn't like he "committed a robbery or raped someone," she said, adding, "He is not a dangerous person."

Check out ...

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who will help dedicate the new Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at 3 p.m. today ... Val Kilmer at several Palms eateries this week ... Swarms of school kids holding up dollar bills at Las Vegas Art Museum on West Sahara Avenue to see if the George Washington portrait by Gilbert Stuart on display there is really the same image as the one on the money (it is) ... Gary Sandy (who played Andy Travis on the classic sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati"), Ann-Margret and husband Roger Smith at a Penn & Teller preview at The Rio. The magic duo appeared Thursday in a tank with $1 million -- all in quarters -- in the casino parking lot to promote their new gig ... Rita Rudner, decked in head-to-toe Fendi and wearing an original $150,000 FRED Paris Collection neckl ace and earrings, being photographed for a magazine cover at Fareed Motraghi's FRED store at the Forum Shops at Caes! ars ... Finally, get well fast, Norm. It is a little less fun out there all by myself. Competition makes both of us better.