Hunt on long list of gubernatorial hopefuls

Kirsten Searer

Thursday, March 11, 2004 | 11:11 a.m.

More than two years before the 2006 election, the list of people eyeing the governor's mansion is growing longer.

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, a longtime Nevada resident and Republican, said she already is organizing her campaign and will start raising money soon to become Nevada's next governor.

Hunt is a former Clark County commissioner and local businesswoman who owns Bootlegger restaurant in Las Vegas.

As lieutenant governor, she oversees several boards that deal with tourism, and she has made boosting tourism one of her main priorities in office. She also serves as president of the Senate, meaning she can cast a vote to break a tie.

She joins Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., on the list of Republicans whose names have surfaced as potential candidates.

There already were expectations for a crowded field in the Democratic primary, with several big names contemplating a run: Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins of Henderson; Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson; and Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus of Las Vegas.

Titus briefly thought about challenging Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., in this year's election but said this week she will definitely run for governor.

"This is my goal," she said this week.

Steve Forsythe, a political consultant who ran Hunt's three previous campaigns, said he thinks Hunt has found appeal with voters because of her business background. Voters realize that she knows that the more successful businesses are, the more jobs will be created and the better the economy will be, he said.

"She's always been in touch, I think, with the issues that matter -- the economy and jobs," he said. "I have been thinking about this for quite some time," Hunt said this morning. "I am certainly planning on doing this."

"You know, it's a job I'm qualified to do," she said.

She said she would focus on economic development in the state, looking for more opportunities in the global economy, creating more small-business opportunities, focusing on aerospace development and expanding Nevada's market of movies, TV and documentaries. She is coordinating a small-business summit in September.

She acknowledged there will be many candidates in the race, but added, "I would like the opportunity to express my vision."