All sides of Oscar

By Sam Skolnik

Monday, May 25, 2009 | 2 a.m.

The items in Oscar Goodman’s office, taken together, reflect the sometimes warring parts of the persona of the “Happiest Mayor in the Universe.”

There are the obvious if joking bows to the man’s outsized ego, including a dozen bobblehead dolls; the ornate Bavarian replica throne he sits on; and not one but two bejeweled crowns (one is a “traveling crown,” he quips, for trips).

On Goodman’s desk there are the weighty and civic-minded, such as a Hebrew Bible, a thick book of quotations, and plaques recognizing municipal excellence — all jostling for space next to several nods to his well-documented vices, including a flask and a box of poker chips that serve as business cards.

None of this is to overlook the many Las Vegas-themed trinkets, the scores of signed photos of a beaming Goodman with visiting celebrities, from the “A-list” to the “D,” and the dozens of framed portraits of his wife, Carolyn, and their children and grandchildren.

“I love the office. I love coming down here,” Goodman said. “People who come here, they get a kick out of it. They say it’s not like any other mayor’s office they’ve ever been to.”

During his guided tour, one thing slowly becomes evident: There is no sign of the mayors who preceded him. It’s as if they didn’t exist.

When Goodman leaves office in 2011, the items will leave with him. Most will be auctioned to benefit local charities, he said.

“Let’s put it this way,” the mayor said. “My wife says I can’t bring anything home.”