Beers’ rival is ‘nice,’ but is nice enough?

Democrat says she’ll talk issues — later

By J. Patrick Coolican, David McGrath Schwartz

Fri, Apr 25, 2008 (2 a.m.)

Steve Marcus

Democrat Allison Copening will launch her candidacy Saturday to unseat Republican Bob Beers in Senate District 6.

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Allison Copening, the Democratic candidate for State Senate, District 6, on taxes.
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Copening on her opponate, State Sen. Bob Beers.
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Allison Copening is in some ways a dream candidate to take on Republican stalwart Bob Beers in the pivotal race to decide the future of the state Senate, which Republicans control by one vote.

She’s president of the board of a nonprofit organization and trustee of another. She’s been a marketing executive for a homebuilder and a TV station, and she’s run her own business.

She tells a compelling personal narrative, having survived cancer and experienced the loss of her brother to the disease.

She eschews ideology and talks convincingly about building consensus in Carson City. She’s universally described as “nice.”

Copening is a 43-year-old self-described moderate Democrat who will launch her campaign at a Saturday event. She is the perfect contrast for residents of the Summerlin-area district who may suffer fatigue from the incumbent Beers, a pugnacious media hound and libertarian ideologue whose agenda is simple: less government, more Beers.

But in a long interview, Copening’s weaknesses demonstrate this is still Beers’ race to lose. Though her candor is refreshing, her frank admissions of policy ignorance won’t win voter confidence. Her sense of honor and unwillingness to roll around in the mud, while admirable, show a certain naivete about what will be required to take down Beers. And though she has fundraising potential — hundreds of thousands of dollars will be required — from her network of friends and acquaintances, she has yet to bring in much money.

Copening’s agenda so far is this nonspecific boilerplate: “Well, the issues that we’re facing are many and varied, and I think that as a legislator I want to get in there, work together to identify what these most critical issues are and work across party lines to try to resolve some of these.”

When she was asked about the most pressing issue facing the state — a budget deficit caused by the sluggish economy, leading to a need for vast budget cuts — her advice was to cut the least essential programs first. Hardly insightful advice for budget writers faced with no easy choices.

“As I continue in my campaigning I’ll be able to address these issues in more detail. There’s more research I need to do. The bottom line is there’s no easy issues,” she said.

“My goal in coming months is to understand issues inside and out,” Copening said. “The first thing I want people to know is me.”

Copening said her experience in business, specifically running her own, makes her reluctant to favor a tax increase, though she made no pledge either way.

Although she said voters would learn why Beers is the wrong choice this year, she declined repeated entreaties during the interview to draw distinctions between herself and Beers, though she did criticize his proposal to arm teachers with guns.

Although Copening declined the offer to hit Beers, opponents have started attacking her. An anonymous Web site says, “Like her mentor, Dina Titus, Allison Copening is an attractive blonde who believes passionately that Nevada needs higher taxes,” referring to Democratic Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus.

(Beers said he has no idea who’s behind it but is trying to find out and get it taken down.)

As Titus noted, Democrats will provide a stable of surrogates and a well-funded effort independent of Copening’s campaign to hammer Beers for his Wild West stylings, which tend toward guns for all and programs for few.

Asked how much money she’s raised, Copening said, “I have raised not a heck of a lot right yet.”

Democrats say the district will be flooded with money and volunteers working on the presidential campaign and the competitive race in the 3rd Congressional District, where Democrat Robert Daskas hopes to unseat incumbent Rep. Jon Porter.

The district, Senate District 6, is in the midst of considerable change, with Democrats now outnumbering Republicans by more than 400 and counting every day. Boding poorly for Beers: In this district, Titus outpolled Jim Gibbons in the 2006 governor’s race.

Moreover, state Senate districts are small enough that a candidate with a sterling resume, a wide network of friends and a charming personal demeanor can win over voters in the absence of a well-formulated agenda, lots of money or keen political skills.

To a large degree, at least in the early going, that’s what Copening is banking on: voters who come to like her. If her impeccable character references are any guide, she may be successful on this score.

“She’s phenomenal,” said Dr. Stephanie Holland, a founder of Child Focus, a nonprofit group for foster children. Copening is president of the Child Focus board. “I would describe her as committed and compassionate. There’s nothing she says she’s going to do that she doesn’t do. She balances a bunch of things at the same time, and she’s committed to kids and the child welfare system,” Holland said.

Lori Nelson, a spokeswoman for Station Casinos and a friend of Copening’s, said she was most struck by Copening’s response when diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005.

“She had an unbelievable attitude. She didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her. She was never a martyr. Never wanted pity,” Nelson said. “She wanted to fight it.”

Beers must know he’s in for a tough race. As Copening considered a run, he called her during the dinner hour one Friday night to try to dissuade her. Beers said he did so out of concern for her, that she was being lured into a race she would undoubtedly lose.

No surprise that Beers would respond with a clever — if wildly disingenuous — explanation like this.

This is what Copening will face from now until November.

Discussion: 7 comments so far…

By vegaslee

4/25/08 at 7:16 a.m.

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In 2004 the State of Nevada had a huge surplus that should have gone into savings for rainy days, like Nevada is experiencing now.

The brainchild behind "rebating" that money was Mr. Beers.

As citizens we know we have to save for bad times in our life, to bad Mr. Beers did not think that way for this state instead of trying to score a few points by sending us pennies in the good times.
By HelenWeils

4/25/08 at 8:33 a.m.

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Bob Beers will kick her ass. He's owned a business. He is a certified Public accountant who can actually read a budget. He is the taxpayers best friend. I have contributed to his
campaign in the past and will do so again.
I read the piece about her in Chuck Muths column.
We've had nice people in the Legislature, we need someone who can stand up to the unions and
special interests and Senator Bob Beers is the best one to do that, hands down.
GO BOB BEERS!!!!
P.S. THANKS AGAIN BOB FOR MY REBATE, I APPRECIATE IT THAT YOU WERE LOOKING OUT FOR US
INSTEAD OF THE TAX AND SPEND CROWD.
By jfnance32

4/25/08 at 10:59 a.m.

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There is a line in the news article that I love it for it has a great double meaning.

I think Senator Beers should consider it as a campaign slogan.

The article says that electing Beers will mean: "less government, more Beers."

Sounds good to me.

I think Copening has to answer one question: "Titus has said that without Beers that Nevada will be able to raise taxes much more easier. Copening, do you agree with that statement?"
By Johnathan_Abbinett

4/25/08 at 1:22 p.m.

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Allison Copening (sounds like "opening" only with a "c") is one of the most impressive citizen advocates and activists I've ever met!

Allison is exactly the type of kind, intelligent and compassionate person we need in our citizen legislature - WOW somebody who really cares about our children and future - that would be a welcome change from the selfish, self-centered, people who come here "just for the beer" and got us into this financial mess to begin with!

Allison is smart to form her campaign early and frame her issues generally, then do the required research to be able to articulate specifics on policy as her campaign evolves - I'm very well impressed that she takes the issues so seriously and is responsibly developing her strategy in a phased manner! This is the mark of a very professional person - I'm sure she's saving the details for debate time and not tipping off her opponent - that's just SMART!

We certainly don't need anymore knee-jerk, well, er, jerks of any kind, in the Nevada Assembly who think arming teachers and putting more guns in our schools is an option - what ever an idiot like Beers was thinking is beyond any rationale, logic or responsible reasoning!

Beers is typical of the radical, right-wing, neo-con, nut-cases that don't believe in actively caring for their neighbors or, even, those who can not care for themselves - haven't we seen clearly where that selfish trail takes America down, and down, since 1980?

The rich get richer and the vast majority of the population suffer more and more! Beers is just one of the people who have put Nevada at the top of every bad list and at the bottom of every good list - isn't enough ENOUGH?

And an accountant that doesn't believe in SAVINGS - are you kidding me? That's just further proof the guy is fiscally incompetent!

It's time the people take back our government and Allison Copening is just the type of solid, moderate Democrat we need to be electing into office!
By HelenWeils

4/26/08 at 3:08 p.m.

Suggest removal

Bob Beers will kick her ass. He is a very caring
individual AND the taxpayers best friend.
If you idiots want to raise taxes just start sending your checks to the government now, no need to wait!!! Nobody is getting rich in Vegas
right now in case you haven't noticed, Johnathan
thanks to the overtaxation. By the
way, read this and weep.
http://www.beers4nevada.org/wordpress/04...
YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES, SO BACK OFF!
By victor89801

5/26/08 at 10:51 p.m.

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I met Sen. Beers in Elko when he was running for governor. He seemed to be a reasonable and honest man. However, as an Elko delegate, I would like to point out that his actions at the Republican State Convention show he has a lack of character and honesty. I plan on sending a donation to Ms. Copening. Bob Beers has no character. He is simply a career politician who cares nothing for democracy.
By Team

7/18/08 at 7:11 p.m.

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Tax Payors best friend or tax evader's friend. Beers business partner in his company Beverage Plus owes over a quarter of a million dollars to the IRS in back taxes he evaded he is also a convicted felon. Just blog Senator Bob Beers Soulcast to get the truth. They say birds of a feather flock together.