Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

WARD 1 RACE: Moncrief ousts McDonald

Incumbent hurt by investigation of corruption

Victorious Las Vegas City Council candidate Janet Moncrief hugs supporter Abby Abeyta during a Tuesday night campaign celebration at Hurricane Harry's on West Sahara Avenue. Photo by Craig L. Moran. City Councilman Michael McDonald, right, gets a hug from his mother, Doris, as he prepares to concede the election Tuesday. Looking on are from left, girlfriend Jennifer Simich, father John and sister Jackie Levin. Photo by Christine H. Wetzel.

Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald's baggage proved too heavy for voters to bear Tuesday, as they ousted him from office in favor of Janet Moncrief, a newcomer to the ward and to politics.

Moncrief, who had never voted before the April primary let alone pursued elective office, outpolled the two-term councilman 58 percent to 42 percent to win the Ward 1 seat. Her victory in the general election came despite being outspent by McDonald 9-to-1.

"A totally unknown person just a few months ago is going to be your city councilperson," a shaking and apparently overwhelmed Moncrief told a group of about 150 supporters gathered Tuesday night at Hurricane Harry's on West Sahara. "I'm going to work so hard for you guys, I promise."

Political observers attributed McDonald's loss to his ties to the FBI's ongoing investigation into political corruption and past run-ins with city and state ethics boards, combined with Moncrief's homespun, grass-roots campaign.

"Councilwoman Moncrief has taught the political establishment a valuable lesson over the past three or four months: You can never discount a dedicated and determined challenger against a flawed incumbent," said political consultant Dan Hart, who has worked on several local political campaigns in recent years. "It certainly signals that people care about the ethical lapses of officials."

The political consultant said the incumbent might have been hurt by the low turnout for the election, which attracted just 13 percent of active, registered voters.

Moncrief, a registered nurse who moved into the ward in December to run against McDonald, campaigned door to door in surgical scrubs and mailed out fliers made on her home computer to select groups of active voters.

Robert Brien, 76, said he voted for Moncrief precisely because she is new to the political process.

"I just wanted somebody new in politics who isn't a politician," said the 25-year resident of Ward 1. "I don't know how good a councilman she's going to be, but at least she's not one of them."

During the campaign Moncrief weathered the revelation of a DUI arrest nearly a decade ago, as well as allegations from McDonald's camp that she didn't live in the ward and that her campaign was being illegally funded by the councilman's enemies. She owns a home in unincorporated Clark County and rents in the ward. A barrage of fliers attacking Moncrief on those issues were mailed to Ward 1 voters during early voting in mid-May.

At about the same time, the public learned McDonald had been interviewed briefly by FBI agents in connection with their raids on two strip clubs. He later revealed he was a paid consultant to Mike Galardi, the owner of the clubs at the center of the political corruption investigation. At the core of the probe is whether current and former elected officials received gifts or money in exchange for political favors. Among the political figures, McDonald was the only one seeking re-election this spring.

"The timing couldn't have been worse," Jim Ferrence, McDonald's campaign manager said of the FBI investigation. "Two weeks of bad press during the two weeks of early voting is hard to overcome."

Some voters said the mudslinging by McDonald's camp left them with the impression the councilman was trying to distract voters from the questions about his character.

"You don't make yourself look good by making others look bad," said Curlee Dunnam, after exiting the polls at Wasden Elementary. "I'm tired of McDonald's name appearing in the wrong places."

Others who voted for Moncrief said they had done so as a vote against McDonald, rather than one in support of his challenger.

"I voted against McDonald," said Laverne Thompson, who had tired of the persistent questions about his ethics. "I'm not particularly impressed with Janet, but sometimes you have to vote against someone."

McDonald bowed his head, closed his eyes and sighed when a supporter informed him of initial results that showed him trailing by double digits. It was nearly 9 p.m. before he conceded the election.

In a 5-minute speech to supporters at his campaign headquarters, McDonald, 38, thanked his family members one by one for their help.

When asked by a reporter if he thought the FBI investigation had anything to do with his loss, the crowd of several dozen people broke into uproarious laughter.

"Oh, no, not at all," he said, bringing more laughter from the relatively boisterous crowd. "I wish the timing was a little different."

McDonald congratulated Moncrief on her victory and said that in the end, it does not matter why he lost.

"That's part of politics," he said.

He said, however, that the loss was clearly not for a lack of effort.

"This has been the hardest fought campaign as far as a ground game that I have ever experienced," he said.

After McDonald's loss to Moncrief in the primary, his camp focused on motivating his union supporters. Culinary Local 226 assisted with a monthlong get out the vote effort for the ex-cop, who is considered a friend to labor.

On Election Day, the union's political operatives were canvassing the district and urging union members to support McDonald. Among them was Tony Martin, a union shop steward, who drove Ward 1 for eight hours Tuesday with fellow activist Nichole Petersen, knocking on hundreds of doors.

"We really need you out. If you need a ride we'll take you," Martin told a registered voter, who peered from behind a partially opened front door.

"It's not no big election," replied the 60-something Las Vegan, who wore nothing but a black Speedo bathing suit.

Although Moncrief had no get-out-the-vote program, McDonald's efforts were made more difficult because of the recent tide of bad publicity, according to Hart. "You have to be able to motivate the membership, and it's difficult to do in the face of the press Michael McDonald has gotten lately," Hart said.

Moncrief, an Illinois native who moved to Las Vegas 13 years ago, has said she plans to take her cues on priorities from voter surveys. So she wants to improve the way the city deals with its homeless population and how it approaches downtown redevelopment.

The 43-year-old single mother with a 22-year-old daughter in college also has floated a controversial proposal to loosen the requirement that casinos operate at least 200 hotel rooms. This, she believes, would stimulate new construction downtown.

She said Tuesday night that she doesn't plan to purchase a home in Ward 1. Instead, she'll continue to rent while maintaining her residence outside the ward.

"I like where I live right now," she said, adding, "I'm not going to say I'm not going to buy a house in the district."

Review-Journal writers Dave Berns and Richard Lake contributed to this report.