JIM GIBBONS TO CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR NEVADANS

WILL FILE FOR RE-ELECTION THURSDAY

March 10, 2010

Carson City- Jim Gibbons plans to continue his fight on behalf of all Nevadans against higher taxes. Gibbons is also looking for support to carry on his efforts to reduce state spending. Those are only two of the vital tasks Jim Gibbons promises to vigilantly uphold as he files for re-election on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at the Secretary of State’s Office in Carson City.

“I have built a strong track record of fighting for hardworking families in Nevada, I promised to fight higher taxes and rein in government growth and I kept my promises” Gibbons said, “I want to continue doing what’s right for Nevada by leading all sides together as ONE NEVADA and standing up to the ‘good old boys’ and the ‘establishment’ or anyone else standing between the citizens of Nevada and prosperity”.

“During these tough economic times, I believe the best course for Nevada is to maintain our leadership team so we can work through the difficulties, like every family in Nevada, and we can continue our efforts to be prepared for the economic recovery that will come.”

Jim Gibbons is a decorated fighter pilot, former airline pilot, former United States Congressman and is presently serving his first term as Governor of Nevada.

Governor Gibbons will file for re-election at the Secretary of State’s Office in the State Capitol in Carson City at 11:00AM on Thursday March 11, 2010.

Contact Information: Jan Brase (775) 636-4452

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Rory Reid (D) – Governor (filed in LV)

11:35 AM:

Pete Goicoechea (R) – Assembly District #35

Tom Grady (R) – Assembly District #38

Paul Murad (D) – Lieutenant Governor (filed in LV)

David Scott Curtis (Green) – Governor (filed in LV)

3:35 AM:

Frank L. Wright (R) – Washoe Senate District #4

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CARSON CITY – Thanks to term limits and decisions by some lawmakers not to seek re-election, at least 17 members of the Nevada Legislature will not be returning in 2011, and the number could end up being even higher after Election Day in November.

Seventeen lawmakers are termed out of office in the 2010 election cycle, but three so far have filed for different legislative offices and could return to the Legislature for the 2011 session.

Five members of the Assembly not facing term limits, which take effect in this election cycle for the first time, are running for open state Senate seats where long-time lawmakers are being forced from office. Several face opponents in their races, some in primaries and some in the general election.

Two lawmakers, Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, and Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell, D-Carson City, are not seeking reelection for personal reasons. Sen. Stan Olsen, R-Las Vegas, who was appointed to serve in the special session in place of Sen. Warren Hardy, who resigned from the Legislature last year, has no plans to seek election to the seat.

State Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, has also filed for a seat on the Clark County Commission. If he wins that race, he would have to resign from the Senate in mid-term. The Clark County Commission would have to select a replacement from the same party to serve in the 2011 session.

And a former member of the Assembly, Pat Hickey, could return if he wins the Washoe Assembly 25 seat being vacated by the retiring Gansert. Hickey served in the 1997 legislative session.

Candidate filing does not end until Friday, so the election season program remains in flux until then.

But one fact is clear: the Legislature will have many new faces when it has to tackle a budget shortfall estimated at as much as $3 billion just 11 short months from now.

Carole Vilardo, president of the Nevada Taxpayers Association, said the influx of new faces presents more questions than answers as to the effect on the 2011 session.

The loss of institutional memory on the Senate and Assembly tax and money committees could present problems, especially given the constitutional limit of a 120-day session, she said.

“Because they will be dealing with technical issues requiring some institutional memory of how we got to where we are,” she said. “It will be a steep learning curve.”

The Legislative Counsel Bureau already provides training sessions for new lawmakers, but that process might be expanded to give them a jump start on the revenue and expenditure situation, Vilardo said.

The potential for several seasoned members of the Assembly to move into the Senate may provide some stability to the process, but it is a question of whether they will be able to serve on the same committees they served on in the Assembly, she said. Seniority plays a major role in committee assignments.

“I’m not even going to attempt to guess what it will do,” Vilardo said of the influx of new faces.

Three of the seven members of the Senate Finance Committee are termed out and won’t return in 2011. Another eight of the 14 members of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee won’t be returning to the money panel, although some are vying for other legislative offices.

The taxation committees will also see significant turnover.

The other question is whether Republicans have a chance to take back either or both of the two Legislative houses this year.

Assemblyman Ty Cobb, R-Reno, who is running for the state Senate seat being vacated by term-limited Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, is not so sure about the Senate, where Democrats hold a 12-9 advantage.

“I’m not sure there are enough Senate races in play,” he said. “We don’t even have a candidate yet in Senate 1 in Washoe.”

The Washoe 1 seat is being vacated by Sen. Bernice Mathews, D-Reno, due to term limits. Term limited Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, is running for the seat, as is a Libertarian candidate.

A takeover in the Assembly would be much tougher as Democrats now have a 28-14 advantage.

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Coolican at the Sun:  “Tea Party candidate could siphon GOP votes in bid to remove Harry Reid” — In which Coolican says it “has become clear” that Ashjian is not a “stooge” of Harry Reid, that Republicans fear his prospective siphoning of votes, that Ashjian has some issues (including an IRS lien on his property due to owing $200K+ in back taxes and an already reported (by me, here) pending contractor’s board complaint for a bad business check) and that, still, he cannot be dismissed and is potentially appealing because “he and his wife look like they could star in an ad for a health club” and “Ashjian is familiar with Tea Party talking points” and in his first TV appearance he showed “poise.”  Coolican reports a “sprawling business enterprise” which Ashjian says includes 27 properties and at least one accountant who is tasked with clearing up his problems.  (Bio blurbs:  He is the eldest of eight children; born in Fresno, Calif.; graduated from South Lake Tahoe High School; completed a Mormon mission in Argentina; says he’s fluent in Spanish; passed up college to start a series of small businesses; came to Las Vegas for a prize fight in 1994 and fell in love with the city; moved here with wife in 1995 from Fresno; has three children.)

Jourdan at the LVRJ:  “Tea Party hopeful Ashjian gives voters third choice” — In which Jourdan offers a few more details about and some more quotes from Ashjian; a quick read that will fill in some blanks.

Fox News Channel website:  “Facing Dismal Poll Numbers, Reid Welcomes Third-Party Candidates in Senate Race” — In which Harry Reid is not disappointed that there are third party candidates who might siphon votes from the real competition.

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Joshua Gust (via press release) says he’s raised $50,000 and is kicking off his campaign tonight with a reception for volunteers, supporters and friends.  If you’re down south and want to meet him, stop by Agave Mexican Restaurant in Las Vegas from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. (Agave is located at 10820 West Charleston Blvd.)

Snippets from his bio page:

– Born and raised in Las Vegas.

–Family here since 1969, in the wedding chapel business.

– Gust is President of J Transportation and Associated Chapel, LLC.

Visit his campaign page (linked from his name, above) for more.

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Phoebe Sweet’s first set of comments on Harry Reid’s likely GOP opponents went something like:  When you put Senator Reid up against (1) a two-time loser (Tarkanian) or a (2) woman whose husband collected $200K in bonuses while laying off employees (Lowden)…

When Ralston asked Comfort if he is obsessed with Reid and beating Reid, Chris joked:  “Constantly. I have a difficult time sleeping at night…”

Ralston joked back re: whether or not Dr. Comfort’s dental patients should be concerned (presumably about his lack of sleep) and Comfort replied:  “It’s interesting because the dental patients are giving me ideas.  It’s interesting… Because where I work, there are a lot of miners, a lot of self-educated people, and these people understand there is something  wrong with this state and with this country, and how disconnected the Democrats are from any known parameter.”

Comfort went on to say that the GOP has “very well known candidates” running for governor and then named them:  Montandon, Sandoval, Gibbons. When asked if Gibbons is doing a good job, Comfort said:  “The governor is doing a decent job as a conservative in office, and he is holding the line on taxes the best he can, given the hostility of the Democrats…”

Sweet chimed in:  “Well, if that’s the only benchmark, I guess so.  But if you take into account his flip-flops…”

Ralston interrupted and said perhaps the Dems should be praying for Gibbons to win the primary because that is the only hope they (Rory) have.  He went on to say that based on recent polling, Montandan is known by “no one” and is still beating Rory Reid.

At which point Sweet whipped out that famous old standard:  “The only poll that counts is the poll on election day.”

Ralston also read an excerpt from one of Comfort’s recent news release about the voter registration gap which was put out in response to the news that Democrats now have “only” a 63,000-voter lead over the GOP (due to a purging of inactive voters from the rolls):

Looking for proof that our message of common-sense, responsible conservatism is resonating with Nevada voters?

…more and more voters are rejecting the failed policies of the Democrats and are instead embracing the kinds of real, common-sense solutions Republicans are offering. Voters are tired of the reckless spending and unaccountable government that threatens the future of our great state. They are saying: Enough is enough!”

Ralston asked Comfort:  “Were you inhaling some of your own laughing gas?  The Republican party is hemorrhaging voters…”

Comfort acknowledged the numbers but then said the Dems are losing voters at a 3-to-1 ratio.  (They are?)  He added that voters “are not flocking to the Republicans…yet…” and then thanked Jon, tongue in cheek, for “getting the message out…that we see so many people being disaffected by the government, people are fed up, and we see a resurgence of common sense values…”

Ralston turned the subject to the Tea Party candidate (Ashjian) and asked Comfort if he wasn’t “terrified” of the votes that could be pulled and that it might throw the November race to Reid.

Comfort said, “No, we’re not petrified at all” and then said he/we (who you calling we?) are calling him “the Tim Geithner candidate…with his tax problems and so forth.”  (It was revealed on Ralston’s show last week that Ashjian has a tax lien issue of some sort.)

Shortly after, Ralston asked Sweet if independent voters don’t seem to be turning more to Republican candidates right now.  Sweet said, “There’s a move  away from both parties” and then said the reduction in Dem voter rolls are “indicative of a change of address, not a way of thinking.”  She then pointed out that the GOP doesn’t have much going for it if “all they have to crow about is a 66,000 voter registration gap.”

(Ouch!)

There were a few more parting comments about Senator Reid, on whom Comfort’s last word was:

“There is technology park on 215 and Durango, near my house, that has sat empty for years.  That’s a testament to Harry Reid’s failed leadership…” and then, re: Rory, he added:  “The apple does not fall far from the tree.”

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His Facebook page lists his campaign website as:  http://ashjian4senate.com/

(Click the link.)

Looks like somebody (else) bought the url.

Related posts:

1. Tea Party Qualifies as Third Party in Nevada
2. Third Party Politics

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CARSON CITY — Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons will veto a bill tightening furloughs for state workers that was passed during a special session of the Legislature.

Gibbons’ staff says the governor instead will enact most of the provisions of SB3 through executive order and regulations.

The bill also establishes four-day, 10-hour work weeks for most state agencies beginning July 1, and tightens one-day-per-month furloughs imposed last year by requiring exempt employees to instead take a 4.6 percent pay cut.

Chief of Staff Robin Reedy won’t discuss details of the governor’s concerns over the bill, saying they will be addressed in the governor’s veto message.

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Someone new (first time candidate Orrin Johnson) has filed and is joining Pat Hickey in jumping into the GOP primary race for Heidi Gansert’s now up-for-grabs Assembly seat.

Some bio info from his campaign team:

– Orrin put himself through college at the University of Minnesota on a Navy ROTC scholarship, making ends meet by working for his school’s police department.

– After graduating, he served in the U.S. Navy for six years as a Surface Warfare officer, “driving” Destroyers around the world and deploying overseas three times in support of missions such as Operation Southern Watch and the post-9/11 Operation Enduring Freedom.

– After leaving the Navy, Orrin attended law school at the University of Washington in Seattle where he met his wife, Alicia. Orrin and Alicia were married at Alicia’s parents’ home in Reno – the same home she had grown up in as a little girl.  After graduation, the Johnsons settled in Reno to raise their own family.  Baby Lillian was born last year.

– Since moving to Reno, Orrin has engaged in the community, working as a public defender for Washoe County.  He’s volunteered to coach a high school mock trial team, assisted with speech and debate programs at various schools and taught 5th Graders about the justice system.  He’s participated in various charity events, and has been active for years in promoting Republican events, ideas, causes and candidates.

I talked with Johnson briefly this morning.  Here’s what he said when I asked him what he thinks differentiates him from other candidates:

“Well, the fact that I’ve been a conservative blogger for years sets me apart.

The ideas and principles that underlie good government should be studied and pondered and put out to survive the forge of debate. I recently finished reading a book called, “Ronald Reagan: In His Own Hand.” It was a reproduction of his notes and drafts of his many radio spots but if you didn’t know any better, you’re swear you were reading a blog that was written in the late ‘70s.

He wasn’t afraid to put his ideas out there firmly and positively, and I wish we saw more of that today. Without that foundational consideration of our core principles to build on, it’s harder to view individual policy decisions in terms of a long term vision. And a lack of long term vision – marked most notably by spending like there’s no tomorrow when times are temporarily flush – is exactly why we face Nevada’s ongoing fiscal and economic crisis.”

Here’s his new site.

And here’s a YouTube clip I found of him speaking (at the July 4th Tea Party up in Reno).

Gansert’s seat is sure to attract more wishfuls.  Who’s next…?

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Dan Burns, communications director for Gibbons, said via email that the governor will sign Senate Bill 2 to give Nevada the chance to compete for as much as $175 million in one-time federal funds to improve student achievement.

The signing will take place in Las Vegas. The bill was passed by the Legislature in the special session that ended March 1.

The bill eliminates a provision in Nevada law that says student achievement data cannot be used to evaluate teachers. The provision has barred Nevada from competing for the funds. An application seeking a share of the funds is due from the state by June.

The measure became embroiled in controversy, however, because some new language was added saying that student achievement data could not be the only criterion for evaluating teachers. The bill passed the Senate on a 16-5 vote, with some Republicans expressing concern about whether the new language might hamper the state’s ability to compete for the funds. The bill passed the Assembly on a unanimous vote.

There was some suggestion that Gibbons might veto the bill, sending it back to the Legislature for a potential override of the veto during the special session. But as a source inside Gibbons’ office told the Nevada News Bureau on February 26, that did not occur.

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Dear Friend,

THE place to be this month for Clark County progressives is coming up and we want you to be there!

Today we’re announcing a blogging contest to send Nevada progressives to the Jefferson-Jackson dinner on Saturday, March 27th at The Rio.

The JJ Dinner is the largest annual gathering of progressives in Clark County and will feature many public leaders and activists from across the state.

Oh, and Al Gore will be there too.

To enjoy this night of food, fun, and inspiration all you have to do it post at least three entries on our community blog before March 23rd and you are entered to win.

Start blogging today!

You can write about whatever you want. With Al Gore coming to town you could write about why Nevada needs to develop clean, renewable energy sources. Or write about your reaction to the special session that the Legislature just wrapped up. Write about the news of the day at the local, state, or national level – you can write about anything!

We will randomly select two winners from all those who blog three times or more before March 23rd. Each winner will receive two tickets to the dinner (meaning winner + guest) to join us at the ProgressNow Nevada table.

Click here to write your first post!

Yours in progress,

Brian Fadie

Technology Director

ProgressNow Nevada

Considering how few invitations I receive to events of this kind (like: Zero), I am sooooo tempted to go drop some blog posts on ProgressNow’s site for a shot at the prize.

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Harry Reid (D) – U.S. Senate (filed in Las Vegas)

11:15 AM:

Eugene “Gino” DiSimone (Non-Partisan) – Governor

2:20 PM:

Roy A. Woofter (D) – U.S. Senate (filed in LV)

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The group Nevadans 4 Carbon-Free Energy touted the Alaska Permanent Fund as a model for their proposed Yucca Energy Park during a meeting at Morrison University in Reno. The Alaska fund generates revenue for the state through mineral leases, royalties and revenue sharing payments. It also allows each Alaska resident to collect an annual dividend, which was $1,305 in 2009.

“We’re looking at potentially $4 billion annually for the Nevada, with the average family getting upwards of $2,500 to $3,000 a year in dividend payments,” said John Dunn, one of three directors for the group reached via conference call.

Read the whole story for more on the proposal which includes the repository but also adds facilities for nuclear rod re-processing, one (or more) nuclear power plants and R&D for other forms of alternative energy (which could/would benefit our two state universities).

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