Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006 | 7:44 a.m.
Some politicians try to win elections one vote at a time.
In the Clark County recorder's race, Gil Eisner hopes to do it a cup at a time.
As an independent candidate in a contest for an obscure office, Eisner has turned to a decidedly unorthodox tactic - buying potential voters cups of coffee - to get his name out.
For Eisner, probably the only thing worse than no one showing up at the coffeehouses would be too many people showing up. (If his opponents want to sabotage his campaign, all they would have to do is send dozens of thirsty infiltrators to his coffee klatches.)
Eisner's quirky strategy is only one of the colorful facets of this year's recorder's race, a somnolent affair that typically induces yawns even among political junkies.
But if voters have learned anything since electing embattled Clark County Recorder Fran Deane four years ago, this year's race is likely to be watched far more closely than past contests.
So far, it's been worth watching.
There's the underdog military man who, despite being outspent 35 times over, says he won a tough Republican primary with hustle. There's the Democratic candidate, a county official who is lining up some substantial backers in her bid to reclaim the office for her party. And then there's Eisner, a former rocket scientist struggling for ways to help his campaign achieve liftoff.
Jim Edwards, the Republican nominee, pulled off perhaps the biggest upset in last week's primary, although because of the office's low profile, the win gained scant notice.
Edwards is something of a comeback kid, having lost to Deane in the GOP primary four years ago.
Since then, Deane has violated state ethics laws and now is under indictment for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for access to public documents. She is not running for re-election.
Last week, Edwards defeated Charles Harvey, who is second in charge at the recorder's office, and three other Republicans.
And he did it by spending only $1,439. All of his opponents spent more, with Harvey leading the pack with about $50,700 in expenditures - 35 times more than Edwards.
How did he do it?
"The bags under my eyes are an indication," said Edwards, a retired 24-year Army veteran who worked briefly in the recorder's office as a public information officer.
"I made up the money with elbow grease," he said. "I am a fast walker and I can walk long distances."
He also attributed his victory to a flier that he affectionately calls the "Green Thing," a name Deane gave the bright green campaign piece when she beat him in 2002.
"The only other thing I can attribute it to is somebody upstairs is giving me a break," Edwards said.
The Vietnam vet uses his campaign finance record to tout his ability to stretch a dollar.
"That's exactly how I am going to spend the government's money," he said. "I never saw a budget I couldn't cut."
While Edwards relishes his primary victory, Eisner is trying to make his name better known by buying voters drinks - although not the kind for which Las Vegas is best known.
Eisner, who has pledged not to accept money from special interests and who is asking contributors to his campaign to limit donations to $99, plans to buy coffee for anyone willing to sit down with him at a coffee shop at times, dates and locations listed on his Web site.
Eisner's resume includes stints as rocket launch safety project manager for the Gemini space program, deputy supervisor of Los Angeles County and deputy assessor in that county.
As a nontraditional candidate, Eisner says, he is using nontraditional methods to get his message out. He's also trying to demonstrate that he would be accessible to constituents, he said.
Some observers, though, question the gimmick.
"It sounds a little like Mexico. They give out cooking oil, chickens, all kinds of stuff there," said Craig Walton, president of the Nevada Center for Public Ethics. "He certainly has opened a can of worms here."
Eisner, however, argues that his offer is no different than candidates giving away T-shirts at a campaign rally.
To avoid having his campaign treasury emptied by people ordering extra-large premium coffees costing about as much as the GNP of some Third World countries, Eisner plans to cap his payments at $2 per each coffee. He initially wanted to avoid a cash transaction with potential voters by offering Starbucks gift cards, only to learn that the minimum amount allowed was $5.
"That's obscene!" he said.
Eisner said he got the idea from Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who holds monthly meetings at local coffeehouses.
A spokeswoman for the city said the mayor's office sometimes buys the coffee, but coffee shops often provide it free.
Edwards said he has no problem with Eisner's caffeinated giveaway.
"If anybody is willing to give their vote away for $2, that is sad," Edwards said. "Gil deserves the opportunity to get his message out."
Both Eisner and Edwards will have a lot of work to do if they want to beat the Democratic candidate in the race, who many consider the front-runner.
Debbie Conway, the county's business development manager, said she already has a strong knowledge of how county government works. She also has the support of several county commissioners, and at least one Strip casino - MGM Grand - has contributed to her campaign.
"I think my current position is an asset," Conway said. "I think the recorder's office is an extension of what I currently do."
Conway also has history on her side. She represents her party's first chance to win back the traditionally Democratic seat since Deane won it in the last election. Prior to that, a Republican had not won the seat for 36 years.
Moshe Comforti, another independent candidate, also will be on the ballot. He did not return a phone call Tuesday.
Clark County, meanwhile, is still considering whether to ask state lawmakers to eliminate the office of recorder and combine its functions with that of another elected office, such as the county clerk.
The county sent such a proposal to the Legislature in 2003, but it died. Former Manager Thom Reilly said after Deane's indictment in June that it might be time to resubmit the proposal.
"It seems like people in the Legislature might be more receptive to that now," County Manager Virginia Valentine said. But "it's not in our bill draft package now."
archive
