HAVING A BALL

Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007 | 7:07 a.m.

Not all tuxedos are created equal. At the Reno version of Gov. Jim Gibbons' inaugural ball, the tuxes are worn with royal blue ties, and bolo ties, and white ties on black shirts, and ill-fitting vests, and, is that Steve Perry wearing a cummerbund?

The governor's is a classic though, and he wears it well, and he and first lady Dawn look good on stage, and even though Dawn seems a little agitated in the bright lights, she keeps smiling and tries to find his hand with her own. She does it without knowing, subtly, authentically.

Nearly 3,000 friends and supporters are packed into a too-small ballroom at the Silver Legacy Hotel in downtown Reno. It's Tuesday night.

Even though the first lady once considered an alcohol-free Gibbons administration, revelers pack bars around the room, drinking cocktails and red wine (a glass, maybe two) - and what the heck? - how about a Red Bull and vodka.

Dick and Louise Hersey drove 290 miles from Elko, where they sell manufactured homes. They have a grandson off to Afghanistan, and another who just enlisted. They have known Gibbons for about a year and a half.

"It's a pleasure to be with people who think like we do," Dick Hersey says.

(As it happens, Hersey needn't have come so far to find like-minded people, with the governor winning Elko County by more than 40 percentage points.)

Sig Rogich and Robert Uithoven, event organizers who delivered the November victory with their political acumen, thank the relevant people, most relevant of all the financial donors, the corporations and wealthy people who gave $600,000 to throw two inaugural balls for nearly 5,600 people, one here and one last week in Las Vegas.

The Nevada Highway Patrol Honor Guard comes out to a martial snare drum, and the elected officials are announced.

After a moment of silence for fallen soldiers, everyone is invited to sing the national anthem, and perhaps not everyone should be invited to sing next time.

Sen. Maurice Washington says the invocation, thanking the Lord for the occasion and for the governor, and then he says "in Christ's name," so if you're Jewish or don't believe Christ is the Messiah, well, better luck next time.

Jim and Dawn Gibbons dance to "Remember When," played by Reno's Big Swing Band.

The first lady's dress generates a lot of buzz. To a distant eye, it appears to be Bordeaux velvet with organza detail around the bust line, all for about the price of a nearly new Hyundai.

"I love the dress," says Assemblywoman Francis Allen, who's close to the first family. "It's uniquely Nevadan," she says, and indeed, it has a traditional Western look to it, although given the Armani label, maybe spaghetti western is a better descriptor.

Well wishers mob the first family and the party moves into a lubricated hum, and the kids are starting to have a little fun.

Jodi Stephens, who's on the governor's staff, is wearing a cream dress that ruffles out at the bottom, and she and a friend are holding Coors Light longnecks with parts of the labels peeled off.

"We're from Hawthorne," she explains, without elaboration.

There's Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, who's always good for a quip. "I was disappointed Dina Titus wasn't here."