Debate crowd pounces on issue of firefighter sick leave

By Delen Goldberg

Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011 | 10:49 p.m.

A debate Thursday night between four of the 18 candidates for Las Vegas mayor grew heated as audience members peppered them with tough questions about firefighter sick time abuses, high-speed rail proposals, even their professions.

The forum was hosted by the Sun City Conservatives and held in a Sun City Summerlin club house. About 100 people, mostly seniors, attended.

Businessman George Harris, Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, city Councilman Steve Ross and businessman Victor Chaltiel participated.

Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown was supposed to attend but got tied up watching his daughter compete in a high school championship basketball game. Realtor Marlene Rogoff also was slated to take part but didn’t show. Former school administrator and Las Vegas first lady Carolyn Goodman was invited to attend but chose not to participate.

Giunchigliani received the harshest reception, which wasn’t surprising given the conservative audience and her liberal views. She said she expected she might encounter differences of opinion but had promised to participate in every debate and wanted to hear people’s different perspectives.

The audience focused most of their questions on county firefighters’ alleged sick leave and overtime abuses.

With raised voices, several seniors asked repeatedly why nothing was done to curb the scam of which the firefighters are accused.

As the only commissioner present and the person perceived to be in the best position to stop the alleged fraud, Giunchigliani received the brunt of the audience’s anger.

“When we were given the information, I called for an audit. I called for an investigation. I called for termination,” Giunchigliani said.

The sheriff, district attorney’s office and FBI have so far failed to take up the case, she said.

“I’m a public servant. That embarrasses us all. I don’t want my name associated with that,” she said.

Still, the questions continued: Why haven’t firefighters been fired? Why didn’t she do something about it?

Harris used the line of questioning to speak out against collective bargaining.

Chaltiel said that in the business world, employees gaming the system would immediately be fired.

Ross kept quiet.

The conversation then turned to high-speed rail, and the audience again turned on Giunchigliani.

Giunchigliani told the crowd that a multi-state working group has been assembled to explore the possibility of using a modern rail system to move goods between Western states, including southern Nevada.

She said that if viable, it could create jobs and reinvigorate manufacturing. A similar project in northern Nevada has been successful.

A man pounced on Giunchigliani for suggesting that Las Vegas is not already a business hub, even though the same man nodded his head and cheered when the other candidates emphasized the need for the city to diversify its economy and create jobs.

Many in the group also confused the idea Giunchigliani mentioned with the high-speed passenger train proposals being discussed and advocated by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Barack Obama.

Harris and Chaltiel both called those high-speed rail projects a “stupid” use of tax dollars.

Ross again remained silent.

“It’s a horrible idea,” one woman grumbled as Giunchigliani tried to explain her position.

“A train is a faster way to get illegals here,” a man shouted.

Emboldened by the collective dissatisfaction, a woman then blasted Giunchigliani for introducing herself as a school teacher rather than a county commissioner.

Forum host Bob Lampert interrupted to say that he had previously stated Giunchigliani’s commissioner title.

“I’m a school teacher on unpaid leave and I’m also a county commissioner,” Giunchigliani said.

The debate was perhaps the most important of the four that have taken place so far, as the people who attended will likely head to the polls in large numbers.

Seniors typically account for a large percentage of voters, particularly in off-season municipal races. And every vote will count in this mayoral race because of the crowded field of candidates and anticipated low turnout.

Still, this particular group’s reaction to Giunchigliani is likely a weak indication of her overall standing in the race. She is considered to be one of the front-runners.

Remember, this was a conservative event. Giunchigliani almost certainly would have received a far more favorable reaction at a gathering of progressives.