Raggio says Sandoval only Republican with shot at governor’s office

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009 | 6:57 p.m.

CARSON CITY — Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio says former federal judge Brian Sandoval is the only Republican “at this point” who can win the governor’s race next year.

Appearing on the “Nevada Newsmakers” television show, Raggio said “divisive primaries are hurting the Republican party.”

Asked if he was supporting a candidate for governor in 2010, Raggio he was not and added that “a lot of things can happen” between now and the election.

Contacted later, Raggio said he based his statement on political polls that show Sandoval leading Gov. Jim Gibbons in a GOP primary race.

Sandoval is a member in the law firm that Raggio belongs to.

Robert Olmer, campaign manager for Gibbons, said, “With all due respect to Senator Raggio, I wonder if he has a crystal ball that actually works.”

“After the new year, (Gibbons) will go full speed ahead” in the campaign, Olmer said.

The governor, Olmer said, has not focused on his re-election campaign so far but has been concentrating on the financial problems of the state.

Raggio disagreed with the preliminary approach Gibbons is taking in handling the state’s financial difficulty.

Raggio said laying off state workers should be the last thing done to keep the state solvent. He said a $160 million line of credit put in the 2009-2011 budget should be used before any action is taken to reduce the number of workers in state government.

The state is different than private companies when it comes to layoffs. Raggio said a judge could force the state to provide services in areas such as education, mental health and prisons. And Nevada has one of the leanest state work forces among states, he said.

Gibbons said at a news conference Tuesday that using the $160 million was the last resort. The governor has asked his agencies to prepare suggestions for reductions of 1.4 percent to 3 percent. And there could be layoffs, more furloughs or pay cuts.

Raggio also said money for next fiscal year could be moved forward to this fiscal year to handle the $55.3 million shortage in the state in the first three months of this fiscal year.

Raggio, who has served 38 years in the Senate, also disagreed with the governor calling in the Economic Forum, a nonpartisan panel of business leaders, to make predictions about future tax collections.

Raggio said he created the Economic Forum and it should not be called in every three months. He said the budget forecasts can be worked out by the financial staffs of the Legislature and the executive branch without the forum.

Gibbons has called the forum to convene in session Jan. 19.

Raggio declined to comment about the troubles of Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. He said he was not going to be critic or a moralist in talking about the plight of Ensign.

Cy Ryan may be reached at (775) 687-5032 or at [email protected].