Titus leaves favorable impression at council meeting

By Bill Erin (contact)

Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008 | midnight

Bill Erin

Newly-elected Congresswoman Dina Titus appeared before the City Council in Boulder City Dec. 9 and assured the council members that they would not lose representation in Congress as a result of her defeat of Jon Porter in the November election. Porter, former Boulder City mayor, had been a staunch supporter of the city whenever it came to federal affairs.

In response to an earlier open letter to her in this column, in which I referred to Porter as our favorite son, Titus advised us to get over it.

"You now have a favorite daughter," she said to laughter and applause from the audience.

Titus also referred to this column when she said that even though her State Senate seat did not include Boulder City, she knew where Boulder City was and was quite familiar with its problems. As a state senator, she sat on the Legislature's Transportation Committee and was also knowledgeable about our bypass.

While a state senator, Titus pointed out, she had supported legislation in 2007 that provided a property tax exemption for the Boulder City Museum and Historical Association. In 1999, she supported a $250,000 appropriation to assist in the design and construction of exhibits for the museum. In 2005, she approved $150,000 to move and repair the museum.

Titus also assisted our Nevada Southern Railway Museum with support of a $562,000 appropriation for remodeling in 1999. She backed legislation in 2005 to make sure Boulder City got its fair allocation of revenue from a countywide, voter-approved sales increase to hire and equip more police officers.

Titus also cited other, statewide legislation with which she had been successful that also was helpful to Boulder City and its residents.

In regard to our bypass, Titus said she would fight for transportation dollars for Nevada during her term in Washington and supports a stimulus package. She warned that it would be difficult to get money for Boulder City but referred to the possibility of a toll road or some other modification or alternative way of solving the traffic problem.

Solar energy was another subject dear to our hearts that Titus touched on. She said she was totally committed to this form of energy and indicated we could count on her support in this area.

All in all, Titus made a good presentation, and I believe she made a good impression on the large crowd in attendance. She closed by saying she hoped to be in Boulder City a lot during her term and said, "My door will always be open."

Later, in talking to her, I found Titus to be pleasant, engaging and easy to talk to. She seemed sincere in her desire to give Boulder City good representation.

The caveat in all this, of course, is that Titus is an accomplished politician. She wouldn't have the success she has had if she weren't. So, while we were pleased with what she had to say to the City Council, we have to realize that it was political speak.

By that I do not mean to infer that it was insincere. It was what we would expect from a good politician. Titus showed that she does know Boulder City and is aware of our biggest problem from a federal standpoint: Relief from the increasing truck and tourist traffic we will experience from the time the Hoover Dam bridge is opened.

During the next two years, we will find out how much of what Titus said was just good politics and how much of it was sincere.

I'm inclined to believe, at this point, that Titus will give us good representation in the 3rd Congressional District.

At least we are off to a good start.

Bill Erin is a Boulder City News columnist.