Democrats are hoping Gallagher in the race

Kirsten Searer

Monday, March 1, 2004 | 11:17 a.m.

People were starting to wonder if the Democratic Party could scrounge up someone to challenge freshman Rep. Jon Porter.

Democrats had run through a list of prominent names with no luck in finding a contender.

The list ran the gamut, from Assemblyman David Goldwater, D-Las Vegas, and Assemblyman John Oceguera, D-North Las Vegas, to local news anchors Paula Francis and Deborah Levy.

Nevada State Education Association Executive Director Ken Lange also made a well-publicized flirtation with a run, but backed away from it earlier this year.

In December, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters that he was going to stop his recruiting efforts for the party, saying he needed to focus on his own race.

So, many Democrats welcomed the recent news that former Park Place executive Tom Gallagher was pondering a run at the office. They also liked hearing that Gallagher will consider using some of his own money if he does run.

Republicans hold just a slight advantage in voter registration in the 3rd Congressional District, and political watchers say this is the Democrats' best chance at ousting the former Boulder City mayor.

"Porter is as vulnerable now as he ever will be, barring a major scandal or something," said Ted Jelen, a professor at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Another professor agreed.

"Porter should be challenged immediately," said University of Reno political science professor Erik Herzik. "That's when incumbents are most vulnerable, when they're in their first re-election cycle, particularly in a competitive district."

The Porter campaign has been preparing for his re-election since the day after he was first elected, said campaign manager Mike Slanker. In the meantime, Porter has amassed about $1 million for his first congressional re-election race.

"Jon Porter has made himself a very formidable opponent," Slanker said. "I think people would think twice before getting into this."

On Monday, Gallagher seemed optimistic about the possibility of winning the seat. He said he will spend the next few weeks feeling out his support among Democrats and deciding whether to make a run.

"You need to listen to other people, not just to yourself," he said. "This is not about ego or just finding something new to do."

Goldwater, who said he still has aspirations to run for federal office, said the timing wasn't right for him this year.

"In order for a Democrat to win, you need the stars to align," he said.

In this case, a successful Democrat would need strong candidates on the top of the ticket and national issues that would favor Democrats, Goldwater said. Since some say Reid is facing an easy re-election, Democrats might not be as motivated to show at the polls, he said.

"In a district that close, it's always going to be up to the national feeling, and it can go either way in a given year," he said.

It's also difficult to run against Porter because he hasn't done anything "horrible," Goldwater said.

"He's just been a rubber stamp for the Republican agenda," Goldwater said. "But for 50 percent of people, at least registration-wise, that's fine."

Lange said he rejected a run partly because he would have had to quit his job as executive director of the teachers association. With two children living at home and one about to enroll in college, Lange said he simply couldn't afford it.

"My reticence wasn't about taking on Mr. Porter," he said. "I think it would have been a fine race to run. My dilemma basically came down to how one pays the mortgage and puts food on the table while running for office."

Lange said "it's a mystery to all of us" why no Democrat had stepped up to challenge Porter until now.

Many Democrats were waiting for Porter to show a weak spot, Slanker said. But the congressman, who won $1.5 million for teacher training in Clark County schools and $500,000 for accelerated nursing programs at Nevada State College, had a strong term for a freshman congressman, Slanker said.

"I think a lot of people were waiting for a hiccup, and there just wasn't one," Slanker said. "So it gave a lot of folks pause."

Porter also will tout to voters this year that he could be getting a coveted seat on the Ways and Means Committee, Slanker said.

"That speaks volumes about what he's been able to accomplish in his first term," Slanker said.

While Gallagher considers a bid, one more Democratic opponent could surface. State Sen. Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, is eagerly awaiting the decision expected this week from Attorney General Brian Sandoval on whether public employees can serve in the Legislature.

If Titus, a political science professor at UNLV, cannot run for re-election, she said she would consider taking a stab at Porter. The recent rumblings about Gallagher making a bid wouldn't dissuade her, she said on Monday.

Her preference, however, is to remain a state senator, she said.