Gibbons’ Senate decision due soon

Erin Neff

Friday, Aug. 22, 2003 | 10:02 a.m.

Sen. Harry Reid will know within days if Rep. Jim Gibbons is going to run against him next year.

"There's no decision on a final announcement, a date for the announcement or a time or place, but he will be making his decision known before we get back from recess," Gibbons' press secretary Amy Spanbauer said.

The congressional recess ends Sept. 3, but the buzz in Republican circles is that the announcement is coming Monday.

The much-anticipated decision has created a stir in Republican and Democratic circles. If Gibbons does run, his Republican congressional district would open up possibilities for a host of would-be representatives, possibly including Secretary of State Dean Heller and state Treasurer Brian Krolicki.

And, if Gibbons runs, Democrats believe the race will energize Reid and help "down-ticket" Democrats running for offices, such as the 3rd Congressional District.

Assemblymen John Oceguera, D-North Las Vegas, and David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, are both considering running against Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., in District 3.

Goldwater said he is still "waiting to see some more numbers" to determine if the voter registration edge for Republicans in the district can be overcome.

Oceguera said he thinks Democrats are going to have a "great machine" in place regardless of whether Gibbons runs, but he added: "It certainly helps national money come and more things show up here if Reid has a race."

Republican operatives, including consultant Sig Rogich, have said they do not believe Gibbons will run.

Reid had $3.1 million cash on hand for the race compared to Gibbons' $515,000, according to quarterly federal campaign reports filed last month.

Running man

Former Assemblyman John Lee knows he wants to get back into public service, but he's not sure whether he wants to return to Carson City or try his hand in county government.

Lee is a moderate Democrat who stepped down from his Assembly seat last year to run for state controller.

Lee lost that race and is now looking at either the state Senate or the Clark County Commission.

"A lot of it depends on what happens and how things shape up, but I will be running for something next year," Lee said.

Lee said he is running against County Commissioner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, state Sen. Ray Shaffer, R-North Las Vegas, or state Sen. Mike Schneider, D-North Las Vegas.

Shaffer switched parties before the last legislative session and his Senate district still has a Democratic voter edge. Schneider, Lee said, "made some people pretty mad" during the Legislature and might make a target.

Schneider pushed to include a provision in the tax bill that would have allowed the owners of timeshare properties to move their gaming licenses. Schneider is a former owner and current friend of the owners of the Royal hotel, which hopes to move its gaming license to a new location.

Easy reader

Secretary of State Dean Heller is promoting an easy voter project in Nevada with the hope of increasing voter turnout.

Heller held an informational meeting Thursday with a representative of the EasyVoterGuide and members of the community who may be prospective partners in publishing a guide in Nevada.

The voting guide includes a simple description of the political parties, their platform and priorities, and provides snapshots of candidates for state office and about ballot measures.

Ironically, the first candidate on the sample guide that Heller shopped around Thursday is California Gov. Gray Davis telling 2002 voters that he "would be honored to continue serving you."

The easy reader for the Oct. 7 recall would have to be pretty hefty to accommodate all 133 candidates.

The guide is produced in California by the League of Women Voters in partnership with the state. Heller is looking for a similar partner here.