Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Guinn a winner as governor

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003 | 8:17 a.m.

Gov. Kenny Guinn can take care of himself.

He is not one to back down, and is capable of defending his position at all times. He proved himself in the bruising atmosphere of the recent Legislative session where the state budget was the topic of much debate.

He made some tough decisions, some of which earned him no accolades.

But now a group of disgruntled constituents and politicos are attempting to mount a recall movement against the governor. They are seeking signers wherever they can find them.

I have always been leery of signing petitions unless I know both sides. There is always the chance that signing could come back to haunt.

A local TV news program recently showed a solicitor asking a woman to sign the petition to recall Kenny Guinn, and she didn't even know who he was.

Gov. Kenny Guinn happens to be a longtime friend, so I feel an obligation to advise against the unwarranted recall movement.

Through the years I have been involved with many projects involving Gov. Guinn, especially programs involving children when he was Clark County school superintendent.

His compassion for children, plus a solid business background, assured the success of his tenure as school superintendent.

At one point as superintendent, Guinn was responsible for getting the school district more deeply involved with the award-winning Sun Youth Forum -- a program for high school juniors and seniors that usually draws an audience of more than 1,000 to Las Vegas Convention Center.

At a time when UNLV was in a turmoil over academics and athletics, Guinn stepped in and brought sanity out of chaos. His salary was $1 a year.

Gov. Kenny Guinn is a man of good conscience, integrity and sound business experience who has guided the state through some perilous times.

He doesn't deserve -- nor does his family -- the emotional harassment of the recall movement.

Call me a nonbeliever, pessimist or whatever, but I fail to see how a beer bash and minibrewery can benefit the reputation of UNLV.

I doubt it is what UNLV President Carol Harter had in mind with her ambition to make the university an outstanding research university.

I agree with one teaching assistant who believes the university should concentrate on academics and liberal arts programs.

The Board of Regents needs to take a close look at this project.

Remember that old ad: "You'll wonder where the yellow went, when you wash your teeth with Pepsodent"?

It didn't work then, and it doesn't work now. In spite of all the guarantees of whiter teeth and brighter smiles.

Only your dentist can work that miracle.

Sun reader Thomas Johnson offers this bit of wisdom:

"We are in the war, up to our children's checkbooks."