Goodman offers help to schools

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004 | 10:48 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who has lent his name to promote his favorite alcoholic beverage, may soon become a celebrity pitchman for a different cause -- the Clark County School District.

Goodman volunteered his services Monday at a meeting of the Clark County School Board, whose members invited the mayor and representatives from North Las Vegas and Henderson to share their ideas for improving public education.

If it would help encourage parents to get involved in their children's schools or motivate area businesses to better support public education, Goodman said he would be glad to serve as spokesman.

"For whatever reason, people listen to what I have to say," said Goodman, who was re-elected to a second term in April with a record 85.7 percent of the vote. "You can use whatever popularity I have ... to get the message out."

School Board President Susan Brager-Wellman said she was "thrilled" by Goodman's offer.

"He's the face of Las Vegas to a lot of people," Brager-Wellman said. "It would be fantastic to have that kind of positive energy working for the cause of education."

It's too early to say whether the district will take Goodman up on his offer or what form his participation might take, Superintendent Carlos Garcia said.

"The idea has a lot of potential," Garcia said. "We'd like to see this level of commitment and enthusiasm from all our elected officials."

Goodman is no stranger to publicity. A former lawyer for the mob, he helped clients in the past make their case in front of the camera.

As mayor he has done public service spots on TV and served as a spokesman for the city, often appearing on national news programs. As part of his work to promote Bombay Sapphire gin, Goodman has participated in events such as "Martinis With the Mayor."

On Monday he handed out commemorative chips with his name and picture on one side and the welcome to Las Vegas sign on the other. The chips, which were donated by Gamblers General Store, are emblazoned with the slogan "The happiest mayor of the greatest city in the world."

Goodman's campaign finance report shows the donation of 1,000 custom chips and 100 keychains as worth $500.

Craig Walton, an ethics professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said while the mayor's intentions were probably "good-hearted" Goodman's past endorsements and reputation for off-the-cuff remarks could make him a risky choice of spokesman for the district.

"He's advocated for brothels downtown -- clean, licensed brothels, but brothels nonetheless," Walton said. "And, of course, there's the gin."

Goodman was paid $100,000 in 2002 by Bombay Sapphire gin to endorse its product. The money was split between the Meadows School, a nonprofit private school co-founded by Goodman's wife, Carolyn Goodman, and a local treatment center for the homeless.

If Goodman did take an active role in promoting the school district's causes it would likely only reinforce his popularity with his fans and fuel the concerns of his critics, Walton said.

His endorsement of the gin product wouldn't be a conflict of interest in helping the school district publicize its goals, Goodman said.

"I don't see any problem there," Goodman said after the meeting.

As mayor, Goodman told the School Board, he has no direct jurisdiction over how public schools are operated -- and he has no intention or interest in usurping that authority. But he can -- and does -- have a vested interest in seeing local students succeed, Goodman said.

He urged the School Board to push the business community -- particularly the gaming industry -- to offer hiring incentives to students who graduate or at least earn a GED.

The lure casino or hotel jobs that often require little skills or proof of high school completion is a contributing factor to the district's dropout rate, Goodman said.

"(The young workers) have a temporary respite, they are making a living," Goodman said. "But they are never going to better themselves."

Also participating in Monday's meeting were North Las Vegas City Manager Gregory Rose and Henderson Assistant City Manager Bonnie Rinaldi.

Rose told School Board members his city would like to see an emphasis on high-quality educators in every classroom and encouraged them to come to North Las Vegas City Council meetings to share their vision with other elected bodies. Rinaldi urged the School Board to make the most of campuses by opening them up to community groups after hours and on weekends.

"You'll have lots of reasons for parents to feel comfortable and come to the school," Rinaldi said.