News on Chanos sends GOP scrambling

By J. Patrick Coolican (contact)

Wednesday, March 15, 2006 | 7:05 a.m.

J. Patrick Coolican

Four names circulating among Republicans as possible candidates to run for attorney general to replace George Chanos.

Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City: Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Attorney, Kummer Kaempfer Bonner Renshaw & Ferrario in Reno. (Amodei did not return phone calls or emails requesting more information.)

Gerald Gardner, 41, chief deputy attorney general: Kenyon College, Cornell University Law School. Former Clark County assistant district attorney. Wife, two children. Notable: Runs the Las Vegas office for the attorney general.

Stan Parry, 56, private practice, Curran & Parry: Southern Utah University, BYU Law School. Deputy district attorney, 1977-83; member of organized crime strike force 1983-89. Wife, five children. Notable: Prosecuted Tony Spilotro, among other notorious mob figures.

Bret Whipple, 42, private practice, Whipple Attorney at Law: University of Pennslyvania, University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. Chairman, Nevada System of Higher Education. Wife, two children. Notable: Played football at Penn; Regents accused of violating open meeting law during his tenure as chairman.

As word spread Monday that Attorney General George Chanos had unexpectedly announced he wouldn't run for office in November, prominent Republicans were uncharacteristically without a coherent message.

For a party so proficient at deciding on a message and hammering it home - no new taxes, freedom is on the march - it was a little jarring, like a skinny Santa Claus.

They blamed Gov. Kenny Guinn for naming Chanos attorney general last year. They called for the equivalent of a Hail Mary pass - get Chanos to resign so a new candidate could be named acting attorney general. They fretted about finding a candidate in the attorney general's race, where Democratic challenger Catherine Cortez Masto is now the favorite.

The Chanos surprise and the sense of upheaval following it only underscores other Republican adversity. In another statewide race, for treasurer, a Republican primary pits impeached Controller Kathy Augustine against Mark DeStefano, who once declared bankruptcy and was thrown off the ballot in another race for not meeting residency requirements.

Republicans also worry that President Bush, the Republican Congress and their basement poll numbers will be a drag on local candidates by keeping Republicans at home.

First, though, there was the Chanos debacle, and who's to blame, and what to do next.

"Republicans feel like it was a wasted appointment by the governor," said Sig Rogich, a longtime Republican consultant and fundraiser who ran Guinn's campaigns for governor. "What it shows is there's no real political acumen in the governor's mansion these days, no political compass." Specifically, Guinn failed to get a lockdown commitment from Chanos or did not properly vet him, Rogich said.

"The governor made this decision on his own, against the counsel of some I know," he added. (As it happens, Rogich, who was close to Cortez Masto's father, is an unpaid consultant to her campaign.)

Other Republicans were more forgiving of Guinn, blaming Chanos instead.

"My guess is that the governor must have asked him if he was ready to run," said Greg Ferraro, a Reno Republican consultant, "and I'm guessing he said yes. If he wasn't ready, he should have had another answer."

Peter Ernaut, a Republican consultant who has advised Guinn and many other prominent Republicans, also defended the governor.

"It wasn't like there was a bunch of A-list candidates beating down the door," he said, adding, "How do you know when you appoint someone whether they'll carry through with their promise?"

Other Republicans blamed the harsh glare of political life.

"Nobody understands how demanding politics is until you get into it," said former attorney general and governor Robert List. He said he could understand Chanos' enthusiasm waning.

Chanos had a tough row with Assemblywoman Barbara Buckley in a televised debate about prescription drugs from Canada. He argued that the law permits only FDA-approved prescription drugs to be imported. Chanos also faced the prospect of a robust negative campaign, which was apparent from all of the opposition research being floated about him.

List said the party needs to coalesce around a candidate. He named Sen. Mark Amodei and former Board of Regents Chairman Bret Whipple. Other names mentioned include former prosecutor Stan Parry and Deputy Attorney General Gerald Gardner.

Once a candidate emerges, List said, Chanos should resign so Guinn can name the chosen candidate and give him incumbency.

Steve Wark, a Republican consultant, doubted the party could unify behind one candidate.

"Anyone who would like to run for attorney general probably has as good a shot as anyone else," he said.

As for List's plan to get a candidate installed in office, Wark said it would damage the integrity of the office and reflect poorly on Republicans.

Cortez Masto is now the "prohibitive favorite," Ernaut said. Republicans running will get a late start both campaigning and raising money.

Generally though, Republicans were largely stoic and upbeat after Chanos' announcement. They touted their organization, fundraising and candidate recruitment and cited demographic data that point to a Republican future.

"For the last six years, we've had better candidates and worked harder," said Ryan Erwin, who had been running the Chanos campaign. "There's a long time between now and November."

Still, Erwin, like several Republicans, seemed resigned to losing their lock on all six statewide offices.

"With the national mood, we're braced for a tough year," Erwin said. "It will be harder for Republicans to hold every statewide office than for Democrats to pick up a seat or two down-ballot."