CAMPAIGN AD REALITY CHECK

Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006 | 7:30 a.m.

GOVERNOR'S RACE

What the ad says

Announcer: Did Congressman Gibbons forget us when he voted to weaken drinking water standards and even allow more arsenic in our faucets? Dirty politics means dirty water. Did he forget us again or just sell out?

What the ad's trying to do

The ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dina Titus uses highly charged language - "dirty politics," "forget us," "sell out" - to portray Jim Gibbons as putting special interests above public safety.

What's accurate

The votes on arsenic levels in water go back five years. Gibbons has been a consistent supporter of the mining industry, which has opposed efforts to change the arsenic standard. In 2001 Gibbons supported the Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to suspend a standard set by the Clinton administration - he was quoted as saying a cost-benefit analysis was needed so rural communities would not be bankrupted. He also questioned the dangers posed by arsenic levels in water.

What's wrong or misleading

The Bush administration eventually decided not to lower the standard. The Nevada delegation, including Gibbons, helped lobby to get money for small communities to upgrade their water systems.