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Sandoval portrays his job hopping as a strength in campaign for governor
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Brian Sandoval
Michael Montandon
Gov. Jim Gibbons
Sun archives
- Brian Sandoval officially declares candidacy, won’t sign tax pledge (3-1-2010)
- Brian Sandoval’s campaign for governor stumbles out of the gate (12-16-2009)
- Raggio says Sandoval only Republican with shot at governor’s office (12-9-2009)
- Poll: Goodman, Sandoval neck to neck for governor (12-5-2009)
- Moderate image could haunt Sandoval (9-17-2009)
- Meet Brian Sandoval: Candidate for governor? (8-30-2009)
- Political intrigue brewing in the 2010 governor's race (8-16-2009)
- Judge nominee Sandoval has smooth hearing in D.C. (9-30-2005)
GOP gubernatorial candidate Brian Sandoval flashed his biggest advantage in the Republican primary — campaign cash — by releasing a radio ad Tuesday, arguing he will restore the public’s trust in the governor’s office while helping businesses create jobs.
Tucked into the 60-second spot — and repeated twice in the news release — is a noteworthy biographical boast: “Sandoval’s commitment to the public trust led him to become the first federal judge in Nevada history to give up a lifetime appointment to run for governor.”
The fact that Sandoval departed the federal bench has led some of his opponents to cast him as a quitter. He also left his Assembly seat to join the Nevada Gaming Commission, departed the commission to run for attorney general and abandoned his attorney general post for the federal bench.
Mercenary political consultants often cite Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” when talking about campaigns, particularly the philosophy of turning your opponent’s perceived strength into a weakness. This, it seems, is an attempt by Sandoval to turn his weakness — job hopping — into a strength.
Or maybe it’s merely trying to insulate himself from a line of attack.
Regardless, his opponents called it spin.
“It’s not laudable to quit the federal judiciary, heavens no,” said Republican candidate for governor Mike Montandon, a former North Las Vegas mayor. “Quite the opposite, when you’re guaranteed that the most liberal administration in history will appoint your replacement. There’s nothing laudable in that.”
Montandon added: “To me, that sounds like saying he’s proud that he’s the first in history to quit his job for no reason.”
Ron Bath, interim campaign manager for Gov. Jim Gibbons, said, “When someone takes on a position, appointed by the president of the United States, it’s amazing someone can give that up thinking it’s a good thing.”
Sandoval’s spokeswoman, Mary-Sarah Kinner, said in a statement, “Brian has always felt he has a lifetime commitment to the people of the state. He left the bench because he cares deeply about this state.”
Sandoval is leading in the polls, but his margin has narrowed, according to the most recent Las Vegas Review-Journal poll. Gibbons trailed Sandoval 30 percent to 37 percent, with Montandon garnering 9 percent in the poll.
A January poll had Gibbons 16 points down.
Although Sandoval’s ad doesn’t attack Gibbons directly, it opens with faux newscasters reading headlines: “Voter approval ratings are at an all-time low. Another black eye for the Silver State in another big political scandal ...”
Then the narrator comes on: “Do you remember a time when we weren’t embarrassed? A time when honor and integrity were the rule, not the exception. It can be that way again.”
Sandoval speaks at the end, saying he’d make “conservative and necessary decisions” and help Nevada businesses create jobs. “I’ll work every day to control wasteful government spending, and I won’t support a corporate income tax.”
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This is a stretch. Sandoval's job hopping should be called exactly what it is. Opportunistic.
"The fact that Sandoval departed the federal bench has led some of his opponents to cast him as a quitter. He also left his Assembly seat to join the Nevada Gaming Commission, departed the commission to run for attorney general and abandoned his attorney general post for the federal bench."
Sounds like a kid with ADD.
Or, an ADULT with ADD.
Or, quite simply, an opportunist.
The male Sarah Palin. Will Americans vote for looks and minimum brains this time?
WHAT'S ALL OF THEIR OPINIONS ON USING
E-VERIFY
FOR ALL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, VENDORS, ANYONE WHO GETS PUBLIC MONEY
AND QUINTUPLING THE UNEMPLOYMENT TAX FOR ANY EMPLOYER WHO CAN'T CERTIFY THEY USE
E-VERIFY.
THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT........
Having broad experience in several important positions is definitely a plus-plus in a candidate - especially in the situation the state finds itself in today.
We already know what Gibbons, Reid, and whats-his-face can do which is more of the same-0 same-0. It's time we get a governor who has gained perspective from many differnt angles to lead us.
Hey guys, it is called advancement. The resume shows growth in responsibility and success at each position.
The criticism to leave the federal bench is just the kind of hypocrisy that one gets from a gibbons that complain about life time bureaucrats in government for a living.
Hey gov if you hadn't made such a mess of things, he would still be on the bench and you would be on the way to a landslide victory. You have made this state a national joke.
Vote for me I'm a quit-er like Pailin, fire up the teapot.
It is about time he posted his birth certificate like Obama did, what's he hiding???
If he's willing to give up a secure Federal judgeship and run for office -- with no sure bet he'll even get the nomination, let alone win the election -- more power to him. He still needs to substantively differentiate himself from his opponents by the policies he supports/opposes, but an "opportunistic job-hopper" is far from a dis-qualifier.
LOL - So neither the governor nor the mayor think it was a good idea for him to quit his job and run against them???? I'm shocked to hear that.
A strength really? Wow, if he becomes governor he'll leave that job for something else twoyears in it. This guy is a joker. He is really concerned about the people of Nevada? What a joke, if you were really concerned about the people you would have stayed on at one of your appointed gravy train jobs. Nevadans should ask this question, have you ever gotten job on your own???? Do you even know what its like to work a day in your life Sandoval? Forget the fact that you are or were the first Hispanic whatever: that has no place in politics or anything else for that matter. Are you using your heritage to climb the ladder? What is your real adgenda Sandoval? I had no agenda other than to be the best first president America ever had and I did not hop from appointed job to appointed job like you. I worked hard for what I had and received. What is your agenda Sandoval?
"and I won't support a corporate income tax."???
While on the federal bench gravey, Sandoval never met a CORPORATION he did not $$$ like!
Just ask Don Laughlin's BWD Properties, Inc; and, the corporate law firm(s) he is commissioned to work for!
The best governor that corporations can buy!