Henderson mayor, mentioned by Bush, was no-show at speech

Dan Kulin

Friday, Aug. 13, 2004 | 11:08 a.m.

Presidential notice Thursday went unnoticed by Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson.

As President Bush talked of the the West's pressing water issues in a speech in Las Vegas, he said his administration will listen to local governments.

"I know the mayor of Henderson is with us today," Bush said. "Mr. Mayor, we will listen to you."

The problem: Gibson said he never heard it -- he said he didn't attend.

Gibson, a Democrat who is considering a run for governor in 2006, said he was invited but didn't attend.

"I was asked if I would be part of a formal welcoming, but it never went anywhere because Carolyn O'Callaghan's funeral was at the same time," Gibson said, referring to the services for the former Nevada first lady. "I can't be in two places at once."

He said an appointment kept him from attending the funeral.

The Bush campaign downplayed the remark.

"The president was told he (Gibson) was going to be there and looked forward to speaking with him," said Bush spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt. "It was a staff error."

Gibson said he heard about Bush's mention of him and of an e-mail political newsletter produced by the Las Vegas Review-Journal that reported his attendance.

Not that he said it bothers him, but he said it wasn't him.

Gibson said he typically greets official visitors to his city -- regardless of party affiliation -- but the president's trip didn't take him into Henderson.

Gibson noted that he did attend Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry's campaign rally Tuesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center. Sun reporter

Suzanne Struglinski contributed to this report.