Augustine won’t let impeachment keep her out of politics

Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005 | 9:10 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Controller Kathy Augustine, the only state official ever impeached and convicted, hasn't given up the idea of running for political office next year.

Augustine is prohibited from running for re-election as controller because she has served the limit of eight years, but all the other statewide offices are open.

Although she hasn't made a final decision, she is thinking about running for either lieutenant governor or treasurer.

And she is acting like a candidate, attending a variety of public functions, rather than keeping a low profile. She was at the dedication of the new bus service in Carson City last week, and Gov. Kenny Guinn says he sees her at numerous events.

It's been nearly a year since she was convicted by the Senate of conducting political activity with state resources in her 2002 re-election bid. The Senate censured her on one count. Two other charges against her were dismissed.

Prior to that she agreed to pay a $15,000 fine to the state Ethics Commission on a stipulation that she should have known her office staff was working on the campaign on state time.

Republican Treasurer Brian Krolicki has already announced he is running for lieutenant governor, leaving the treasurer's job open. Augustine has no qualms about running against Krolicki, who suggested she step down during the impeachment.

Augustine knows that the impeachment and conviction will be raised immediately when and if she gets into any political race. By the time the election rolls around in 2006, it will be 21 months since the conviction. And at the time she characterized the Senate censure as a "bawling out" given by a parent to a child.

Eric Herzik, a political science professor at UNR, says Augustine faces an "uphill battle" in either contest.

She has an "excellent resume" and has taken the right steps politically, but while the impeachment controversy has died down, it "will come right back up again" during a campaign, Herzik said.

She has few political friends and it will be hard for her to raise money, he said. And there may be "a mental image in the voters' minds" of the ethical violation of misuse of state property.

Cy Ryan can be reached at (775) 687-5032 or cy@lasvegassun.com.