Dawn Gibbons considers run for Congress

Benjamin Grove

Friday, Jan. 7, 2005 | 11:07 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- If given a choice, former Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, the wife of Rep. Jim Gibbons, said she would prefer the title of "Congresswoman" to that of "Nevada's first lady."

This week Gibbons' husband formed a steering committee to explore a possible governor's bid and is considered a front-runner for that job if he wants it. At the same time, Dawn Gibbons began laying the groundwork for a grass-roots campaign, she said. She plans to canvass Nevada in the coming months to assess whether she should also run for office -- for the seat her husband currently holds in the U.S. House. She is a Republican like her husband.

While that decision hangs in the balance, her goal is to meet as many Nevadans as possible, she said.

"I know a lot of them already," she said today in a phone interview from Reno. "In 2005 no one is going to beat me at meeting people. And I'm going to be aggressive. I've got ideas to share with them, too."

Gibbons said she likely would make a decision and an announcement about her bid next year.

Meanwhile, she said, she welcomed competition on the pre-campaign trail.

"Anyone who wants to run, they better get out there because the people deserve it," Gibbons said.

Gibbons has said she decided in 2003 not to run for re-election to the state Legislature in part because lawmakers weren't respecting each other's views. But she said this morning that she misses the interaction with constituents and is driven by a "passion" for public service and deep love for Nevada.

On a trip to Lovelock prison this week Gibbons said she was impressed by inmates who made hand-crafted guitars -- so much so she bought one custom-made with a congressional seal for her husband. She said the program may be in financial jeopardy and wants the ability to save programs like it.

"This really isn't about power, although some people will think that," Gibbons said. "It's about public service."

Gibbons said she would not run if there was evidence it could hurt her husband's possible bid for governor, she said. She said her husband would support her campaign regardless of its impact on him.

"I'll make that decision myself," she said. "He would never tell me to do that."

Gibbons said that if her husband did not run for governor and chose to run for re-election to the House, she would not run against him.