Mayor defends Playboy shoot

Dan Kulin

Thursday, May 19, 2005 | 11 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman lashed out at would-be critics this morning, saying the only ones who will criticize him for being a celebrity photographer for Playboy are "haters and those who need to get a life."

Goodman said he did the April 29 photo shoot because it was good publicity and fun, "and I would do it again."

"I do anything that is fun and doesn't hurt anybody."

Richard Ziser, an outspoken conservative who is co-chairman of Nevada Concerned Citizens and vice chairman of the state Republican Party, said the photo shoot was a publicity stunt that crossed a moral line.

"You don't do these kinds of things as an elected official," Ziser said. "The woman, I know she's doing this voluntarily, but it's still exploiting a woman for her body."

Ziser, who said he has only seen news reports of the photo shoot, said the mayor should resign.

The mayor said it is "ridiculous" to think his photo shoot exploited women or might in some way adversely affect children.

"I didn't get paid for it. She did it voluntarily and she did get paid," Goodman said.

"This is an adult playground. I'm not handing it out at schools."

The pictures and a short video of the photo shoot, which was done at the Palms, appeared on the magazine's Web site Monday. A Playboy spokesman said the pictures will not appear in the magazine.

Those who pay the $19.95 a month to be members of the Playboy Web site can see about 20 pictures of a topless Irina Voronina, who was Miss January 2001, taken by Goodman, and another 20 or so of Goodman during the shoot.

There is also a short video of the photo shoot, in which the mayor coaxes and encourages the Playmate while snapping photos and making jokes.

"I think this is great, it will look terrific on you," Goodman said as he offered a skimpy red outfit to the Playmate early in the video.

"That's very good," he said just before she takes her bra off.

"I like that pose," Goodman said, while snapping a photo of a topless Voronina.

"Every day that I have I live to the fullest," Goodman tells the Playboy crew. "I drink to excess, I gamble with both fists and when I eat, I eat like a gourmand. I can do whatever I want, I'm the mayor."

Goodman said it was important to note that someone would have to try to view the pictures to see them. He said the media is responsible for putting the material where children might see it.

"No one forces anybody to look at this," Goodman said. "I didn't write a lascivious story. There's nothing lascivious about Playboy."

"How would kids find out about it? From you," he said, referring to media coverage.

Goodman said the shoot was good publicity.

"It's no different that my flying in an F-15 or throwing out the first pitch," Goodman said, referring to the publicity he generates for the city.

Goodman said only the mayor of Las Vegas could get away with doing a Playboy photo shoot. Goodman was the first elected official to be a celebrity Playboy photographer.

"I couldn't do this anywhere but in Las Vegas," he said.

Ziser said the Playboy photo shoot is on par with the mayor's earlier comments to a group of fourth-graders about drinking.

The mayor was criticized for his comments during a school visit earlier this year. He was asked by a fourth-grader what one item he would take if he was stranded on a deserted island. "A bottle of gin," said Goodman, who also told the class his hobby was drinking. The mayor is a pitchman for Bombay Sapphire gin.

"I don't know which one is worse," Ziser said.