Gibbons seeks fresh counsel

By David McGrath Schwartz

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Gov. Jim Gibbons has severed his last link to Nevada’s political establishment, parting ways with his longtime political adviser as he embarks on an aggressive new attempt to restore his standing with the public.

Gone is Jim Denton, the last of four experienced political hands involved in his successful 2006 campaign.

Replacing them is a new set of advisers, including personal friends, who are inexperienced and largely unknown.

The governor’s lone paid campaign staffer, Robert Olmer, acknowledged Tuesday that he has no political experience and has never worked on a campaign.

A friend of Gibbons confidante Howard Weiss, Olmer runs a marketing consulting firm, Sierra Adventure Marketing, and was the longtime director of marketing for a Lake Tahoe ski resort.

He was paid more than $60,000 by Gibbons’ campaign between June and the end of December, the most recent period for which expenditures and contributions were reported.

Olmer said Tuesday he was brought on to raise money for Gibbons’ reelection campaign but his job has evolved and he is now an active adviser to the administration.

Halfway through his first term, Gibbons has come under increasing attack over what critics say are inconsistent positions on issues and a failure to engage with the Legislature on the state budget shortfall. Even members of his party and the anti-tax crusaders who have been his base have attacked him in recent weeks.

In response, the Gibbons administration has taken a more aggressive approach, using increasingly strident language in podcasts, media releases and letters to legislators and President Barack Obama. For example, in one media release Gibbons claimed lawmakers will raise taxes “with great zeal and enthusiasm.”

His critics have taken note of the shift and some have wondered if it reflects the change in his advisers.

“It appears there has been a switch in the administration,” said Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Las Vegas. “His media response has been incoherent. It used to be rational and reasoned. Now, it’s very erratic.”

“I’ve never seen a political death spiral like this one,” said one veteran lobbyist who asked not to be identified.

Dan Burns, the governor’s communications director since November, said, “It was my idea to be a lot more aggressive.”

Gibbons “is being treated unfairly” by the media, he said. “People in the Legislature call him names every day. After two months, it gets a little old.”

Four years ago Gibbons assembled a campaign team that included some of the state’s top Republican consultants. Besides Denton, there was his campaign manager, Robert Uithoven, Republican kingmaker Sig Rogich and, later, lobbyist and consultant Greg Ferraro.

The four helped steer Gibbons to a victory despite a series of gaffes and missteps during the campaign.

Denton, Uithoven and Ferraro confirmed this week that they no longer advise the governor. Rogich has not advised Gibbons in over a year, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

Denton said the relationship ended “mutually” around the time of the State of the State address on Jan. 15. Denton, who had been paid about $5,000 a month since Gibbons took office, said he has not spoken with Gibbons since that date.

“We parted on very good terms,” he said.

When asked why the professional advisers have exited, Olmer said: “I think the governor is somewhat disappointed by his approval rating.”

Many think the governor’s closest adviser is Weiss, who owns an RV and auto repair business in Reno.

Monte Miller, a Southern Nevada businessman, said he also advises and supports the governor. “Gov. Jim is doing a fantastic job, a historic job,” he said.

Despite approval ratings in the low 20s, Gibbons has insisted he will run for reelection. He has a only a couple hundred thousand dollars in campaign money, compared with the roughly $2 million he had before his initial run for governor.

This week a second Republican candidate, former state Sen. Joe Heck, announced he will challenge Gibbons in 2010. North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon previously announced he intends to run for governor.

While Olmer said he doesn’t have a formal title, such as campaign manager, he said he is the only paid member of Gibbons’ campaign staff. He explained the lack of campaign funding by pointing out that most of the focus recently was on the presidential election.

Olmer — who until a year ago was a registered Democrat — said he met Gibbons about six years ago through a fundraising event for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“I decided to support him because I think he’s doing the best job possible considering the economic conditions,” he said. “Gov. Gibbons is very much his own man. He was a military leader. Gov. Gibbons does what he thinks is in the best interest of Nevada … I have never met a man who had a greater love of this state than Gov. Gibbons does.”