Editorial: No headlines, no compromises

Wednesday, March 15, 2006 | 7:07 a.m.

Two months ago Attorney General George Chanos told Las Vegas Sun reporter Steve Kanigher that one of his hobbies had been collecting quotes. One of his own should now be in his files. "I don't want to walk out my front door to get the morning paper and wonder if I'm in it," he told the Associated Press on Monday.

Chanos, who took over as attorney general in November after being appointed by Gov. Kenny Guinn, was explaining why he decided not to be a candidate in November's election. The Republican Party had counted on him to run a strong race.

The 47-year-old Las Vegas attorney said he wanted to spend more time with his family. But he also said he discovered that being in the public eye and having to work within a political system, which often requires compromise, was antithetical to his personality. A glimpse into what he meant occurred when he lashed out at Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas. He called her "bad for Nevada" even though Buckley has consistently received bipartisan praise.

Chanos had clashed with Buckley over the issue of importing cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. She was a leader in getting a bipartisan bill passed in the Legislature allowing it. As attorney general, he wrote an opinion saying it would be illegal.

Having displayed such a reaction over a simple disagreement, we're glad Chanos took himself out of the attorney general's race. There are a lot hotter issues, and we don't want to find out how much hotter he can get.