Confessions of an ex-LV councilman

Tony Cook and J. Patrick Coolican

Thursday, May 25, 2006 | 7:14 a.m.

Um, you know what I said yesterday about not writing that negative campaign mailer? Well, um, actually, I did write it.

That's the confession former Las Vegas Councilman Steve Miller backpedaled into Wednesday, revealing that some of Nevada's loudest and least successful political operatives are backing Priscilla Flores, a 20-year-old UNLV student running for a Clark County Commission seat against incumbent Myrna Williams and Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani.

With the unpaid help of Miller, Flores is waging her campaign from behind the walls of the gated Las Vegas Country Club community where she lives with her parents. Her political inexperience runs deep - she has never voted , according to Clark County election officials.

Her campaign's quick negative salvo may help solve the mystery of earlier anonymous phone calls and mail pieces filled with attacks that mirrored those in the Flores mailer.

The attacks were presumably designed to soften up the Democratic front-runners for another potential Miller-backed candidate, Nevada Stupak, son of Stratosphere developer Bob Stupak.

But Nevada Stupak bungled his own bid for the office when he failed to meet filing deadlines.

The Flores mailer, which is signed "Priscilla," accuses Williams of being "asleep at the switch" and says Giunchigliani "promotes marijuana."

The mailer includes photos of Giunchigliani standing in front of a blackboard that reads, "We have the right to use marijuana," and Williams with her eyes closed during a commission meeting. Flores' photo - sparkly eyed and fit for a sorority yearbook - also is featured.

Miller's involvement was revealed earlier this week - grudgingly on his part. Initially, Miller denied writing the attack ads, even after being confronted with the fact that an electronic copy of the mailer listed him as the author.

"I don't understand how that could possibly occur," he said. "I've seen it. It was sent to me. I've commented on it, but that's about it."

Later, Miller admitted that he had created the mailer.

"I didn't want people to know I was doing that," he said. "The reason I say that is because I have political enemies."

Miller said he's hoping that his and his protege's common interest in keeping drugs and sex-driven businesses out of the area will resound with voters.

As it happens, however, Miller is the landlord for Club Paradise, a strip club across the street from the Hard Rock Hotel.

Flores, a communications and public relations major, was silent when told about Miller's property before saying, "I asked him for some advice and guidance. Other than that, it's none of my business."

She offered no specifics about what she would do as a commissioner, but said she hopes to make District E more safe and livable for families.

Miller, 61, served on the City Council from 1987 to 1991, when he lost a mayoral bid to Jan Laverty Jones. He was at one time close to disgraced former public officials such as Lance Malone, who has been accused by the federal government of being a bagman for former strip club owner Michael Galardi, as well as recalled Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief.

Miller and Flores' father also share a mutual antipathy for casino mogul Steve Wynn. Michael Flores is the former owner of Villa de Flores, an apartment complex surrounded by the Mirage, which led to frequent disputes with Wynn.

Prior to Miller's hit piece earlier this month, anonymous letters and phone calls with the same message had been circulating the district. The phone calls raised suspicions that notorious right-wing political operative Tony Dane might be involved with the Flores campaign. Dane owns computer equipment that can "robo-call," or send recorded phone messages to thousands of different numbers.

Dane's past includes finding a salesman named David Parks to run against the Nevada Legislature's only openly gay assemblyman, David Parks, in 2002. A judge ultimately threw the challenger out of the race because he could not prove he was a Clark County resident.

Dane refused to confirm or deny his involvement with the Flores campaign. Flores said she has consulted with him, although he is not being paid.

According to Miller confidant and local gadfly Chris Christoff, Flores wasn't the only choice of Dane and Miller to replace Williams.

Both men planned to help Stupak, who ran unsuccessfully against Williams in 2002, Christoff said.

And both Miller and Dane acknowledged they had hopes of participating in a Stupak county commission candidacy.

Political observers say Miller, Dane and Stupak planned to use Flores to tear down the front-runners, allowing Stupak to express disappointment over the mudslinging and perhaps slip into office as the only unscathed candidate.

Miller said he would not have opposed using that tactic. "That would work," he said. "As far as there being a predisposed plan, that's not true."

The Williams and Giunchigliani campaigns, now more clear on the identity of their attackers, dismissed Miller's tactic.

"I am disappointed that there is already a stealth campaign in effect," said Giunchigliani's campaign manager and husband, Gary Gray. "What we hope is that political dirty tricks and stealth campaigns won't discourage people from going out and voting for the candidate of their choice."

Williams spokesman Jim Ferrence said, "Unlike Steve Miller, Myrna Williams has respect for the intellect of the people of District E, who will see through this charade."