Williams’ political future subject of debate

Jennifer Knight

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003 | 11:18 a.m.

Assemblyman Wendell Williams' legislative colleagues and political strategists believe he has a chance to save his political career, but only if he faces his constituents soon.

"I would say at this point it's 50/50," said Mike Sullivan, a political consultant who has worked on the campaigns of Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, and Attorney General Brian Sandoval. "He's shown none of the signs of doing the things he needs to do to recover, like coming out and talking."

Williams, who is employed as an administrative officer for the city of Las Vegas' Neighborhood Services Department, has faced several controversies, including his alleged involvement in the hiring of a woman at the Community College of Southern Nevada; running up personal calls on his city cell phone; billing Las Vegas for hours he apparently didn't work during the legislative session; having an arrest warrant for failure to appear in traffic court and driving with a suspended license.

For more than a week and a half, Williams, D-North Las Vegas, has declined comment to the Sun and television news reporters about the string of controversies.

But political strategists and legislators believe if Williams can face his critics and those who elected him, he may yet be a viable candidate for in the 2004 election -- if he decides to run again.

"So many articles have said 'Wendell Williams not available for comment,' " said Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas. "I think he needs to make a statement to assure the people that elected him know where he stands."

Assemblyman Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, says he knows what it's like to be under media scrutiny but says Williams faces a tougher challenge.

"When you list my transgressions against his, mine are minor," Beers said. "Most of mine revolve around being politically incorrect."

Beers' hardline stance against additional taxes won him favor in his conservative district. But his comments during the Legislature, including perceived slights against casino workers and a black AIDS organization, generated controversy.

Despite Beers' reputation for saying things that don't play well with the general public, Sullivan said he always dealt directly with it by going on record.

"Going public like Beers does is the only way to tackle it head on," Sullivan said.

Williams has generated dozens of stories in the past few weeks, none of which has been good for him.

Williams is now repaying the city of Las Vegas $6,700 for hours he was paid for but later signed amended timecards indicating he didn't work those hours. Williams has agreed to have $290 deducted each pay period for 46 weeks to pay back the money.

Williams also is currently nearing the end of a two-week suspension without pay for charging $1,844.38 for personal cell phone calls made on his city-issued phone between June 2002 and August of this year. Williams is paying $70 every two weeks to clear that debt.

Earlier this month, a warrant was issued for Williams' arrest for failing to appear in a Reno court on an aggressive driving charge. The warrant led to information that Williams had driven for 19 months with a suspended license. Williams settled the dispute for $600.

Williams also missed a $100 monthly payment on a $15,000 fine he owes for failing to properly report campaign contributions and expenses. He caught up on his payments a month later.

Williams has also been accused of using his influence to get a job for his self-described "special assistant" Topazia "Briget" Jones at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Collectively, these issues may trail Williams in his next campaign, but historically he has dodged trouble before.

In 1997, Williams battled in court over nonpayment of $51,921 in back child support and still won re-election in 1998.

Ted Jelen, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas said at the very least controversy about Williams could prompt a challenger to run against him in the next election.

"It's a fairly heavily Democratic community and timing is everything," Jelen said. "This latest round of stuff has occurred early enough that he can get a decent opponent within his own party."

Titus, Wendell's fellow Democrat, said Williams has delivered for his constituents in the past.

"When Wendell was good, he was very good," Titus said. "He delivered for education. He delivered for the west side. He was one of the young Turks but I think he's become too cynical. He still cares very much about his district and he just need to get his house in order and show the voters that he's done that."