McDonald says political turmoil is behind him

Judy Odierna

Thursday, March 20, 2003 | 10:59 a.m.

Janet Moncrief

Age: 43.

Occupation: Registered nurse who works at University Medical Center. Also is the director of the Trinidad Surgery Center.

Endorsements: None so far.

Michael McDonald

Age: 38.

Occupation: City Councilman and consultant for Alpha Omega Strategies.

Endorsements: Police Protection Association; Police Managers and Supervisors; Culinary Union Local 226; Central Labor Council; Las Vegas Firefighters ; City Employees Association; North Las Vegas Police Department; Nevada Conference of Police and Sheriffs; Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

Paul C. Chomintra

Age: 60.

Occupation: Businessman.

Endorsements: None so far.

Peter "Chris" Christoff

Age: 68.

Occupation: Retired.

Endorsements: None so far.

After surviving four ethics complaints since 1995 and a recall attempt, the man who took on everyone from political consultant Sig Rogich to Mayor Oscar Goodman to then-Sheriff Jerry Keller says he has buried the hatchet with his former political foes and learned from his mistakes.

"I take everything as a lesson in life," McDonald said. "It was a valuable lesson and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."

Though McDonald may have been down, political analysts say he was never out.

"He's still very popular in his district and he was even during the height of his ethics charge," said Michael Bowers, a professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. "The one thing he's very good at is constituent services."

Shortly after McDonald was cleared of the charges in July 2001, he attended a community meeting in which residents of his Ward 1 commended McDonald for his help on planning new parks, getting roads fixed quickly and helping create the neighborhood response team. Constituents to this day praise the councilman.

"He's been doing a fabulous job," said Marilyn Moran, a resident for more than 40 years. "I sat on the Planning Commission for eight years and I was thinking about running when he did, and I don't think I could have done as great a job for us."

Luann Baker, who has lived in McDonald's ward since 1983, agreed.

"Mike is for the person," said Baker who has lived in Ward 1 since 1983. "He truly is out there working for constituents. He seems like he's very much for the regular citizen."

That kind of praise, McDonald says, is what got him through his battles.

"At my darkest hour they said, 'We believe in you, keep fighting,"' he said. "I think the support I received at that time and over the last two years has been very positive and humbling."

McDonald is hoping that support will come through again and help re-elect him to the Ward 1 seat. He faces three challengers in the April 8 primary elections: Paul C. Chomintra, Peter "Chris" Christoff and Janet Moncrief. The seat, considered a part-time job, is a four-year term and pays $40,664.

Christoff, 68, is a civic activist who ran unsuccessfully against McDonald in 1999. He says his goal, whether or not he's elected, is to free his streets from drugs.

"I will fight and fight like a Marine to bring the percentage of dope down," he said. " McDonald-- doesn't take care of 100 percent of the community, only the 44 percent that would give him the votes and the money."

Moncrief, 43, is a nurse who has never run for political office before. She said she moved into the district to run for the seat. Moncrief is targeting those that signed the petition in 2000 to recall McDonald and in her letter urges them to help finish the job by electing her into office this term.

"If I can get out and meet people and make them realize there's someone else running against him, then I think I have a great chance," she said. "I know virtually the whole ward is ready for a change. I feel we need to bring integrity back to the council."

Chomintra, 60, has lived in Las Vegas for about a year and once ran for Congress in Thailand. Attempts to reach for an interview were unsuccessful. A woman at his home address told the Sun he did not live there anymore.

Though McDonald's competitors are optimistic, Bowers said their chances are not very good.

"It's highly unlikely" any of them will defeat the incumbent, he said.

McDonald isn't counting his votes yet.

"We perceive everyone as a challenge," he said. "No one knew who I was eight years ago."

McDonald first ran for office in 1995 against then incumbent Frank Hawkins Jr. and 13 other opponents. McDonald made it to the general election against Hawkins won with more than 60 percent of votes.

McDonald was re-elected in 1999, defeating four challengers in the primary by taking more than 50 percent of votes. That year Goodman was elected mayor, and soon after political lines between Goodman and McDonald were drawn.

McDonald attributes the beginning of that feud to the battle over the appointments of Councilman Lawrence Weekly and Councilman Michael Mack. McDonald wanted Weekly and Orlando Sanchez. Goodman wanted Mack and Uri Clinton. The result was a split.

"That's when the silly season began," McDonald said.

Things got even worse for McDonald in 2000, when he secretly recorded a private meeting with Goodman in which Goodman asked McDonald to resign his position as mayor pro-tem. The largely ceremonial title was lost soon after.

Upon discovering the betrayal, Goodman called McDonald "a piece of garbage" and a "sleaze ball" and said "there's no place for him in public government."

"It was a fight for power and I lost," McDonald said.

When told of this comment, Goodman only acknowledged it with an "okay." But Goodman has publicly stated his support for McDonald his other colleagues up for re-election at his campaign kick-off. Goodman also has one of McDonald's campaign signs on his front lawn.

"Over the past four years we've had bouts and taken shots at each other but we're all interested in making Las Vegas the best city in the world," Goodman said. "Elect us and have four more great years."

McDonald said the two reconciled in summer after both went through personal traumas. Both of McDonald's parents were battling cancer and Goodman had just been in a car accident.

"I take more of a mature stance now," McDonald said. "I know we're not always going to agree on everything. His vision of downtown is pretty much something I back right now. Oscar and I have the same personality, and that's a very strong thing for the city."

McDonald says he wants to spend the next four years, should he retain his seat, helping in the revitalization of downtown. He supports getting more money for Metro and he wants to continuing doing what he says he has always done -- improve the quality of life for his constituents.

"I don't mind being called the 'pothole councilman,"' McDonald said. "We are grass-roots. I'm from the neighborhood, I have never left."

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