Mason to run for Supreme Court

Friday, Jan. 30, 2004 | 9:20 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- John Mason, a lawyer who represents clients in the entertainment industry, said Thursday he would challenge Justice Deborah Agosti for a seat on the Nevada Supreme Court.

Mason, 57, of Zephyr Cove at Lake Tahoe, has been critical of Agosti, who wrote the 6-1 opinion that the Legislature did not need a two-thirds vote to increase taxes to fund education.

"In effect, the court directed the Legislature to take the very action that the people, through their lawfully passed constitutional amendment, prohibited," Mason said in a press release.

He scheduled news conferences in Reno and Las Vegas to make his formal announcement.

Mason was chairman of the state Republican Central Committee from 1995 to 2000.

As a lawyer, some of his clients were Kenny Rogers, Olivia Newton-John and Barry Manilow, he said.

Mason was involved in a recent flap. He had been telling people that at age 16 he played guitar for a rock group called the Surfaris during the 1960s. It was best known for its recording of the song "Wipe Out," in which Mason said he participated. But the Wall Street Journal revealed Mason had never been a part of the group.

Others who have said they will challenge Agosti are Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Douglas Smith, 52, and former state Sen. Don Ashworth, 66, also of Las Vegas.

Political filing opens May 3 and closes May 14.

Chief Justice Miriam Shearing is retiring so that will leave an open seat for election. Also up for election will be the seat of the late Justice Myron Leavitt.