Friday, June 06, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
COLUMN: John L. Smith
Stupak reduces his distance from Moncrief campaign after her victory
Bob Stupak swears he had nothing to do with Janet Moncrief's City Council campaign, but that didn't stop the casino maverick from showing up to congratulate her at her victory party Tuesday night at Hurricane Harry's.
Perhaps coincidentally, Stupak arrived after trucks from local TV stations departed for the night.
"I was there for two or three minutes," he says, declining further comment.
Articles have attempted to link Stupak and Moncrief politically and romantically, but both have denied sharing more than an acquaintance in recent months. Ousted City Councilman Michael McDonald tried to portray the controversial Stupak as a shadow influence behind Moncrief's Ward 1 campaign.
Problem was, McDonald had a long list of his own problems splashing on the front page that helped scuttle his eight-year career. From old ethics issues to a new FBI political corruption probe into influence peddling in the local topless racket, all the news was bad for McDonald, whose private consulting business came under fire along the way.
Not even the formidable influence of the local AFL-CIO and Culinary union could save him.
Meanwhile, McDonald nemesis Steve Miller, a former councilman, continues to celebrate Moncrief's victory.
Although he, too, claims no direct association with her campaign, he also showed up at her victory party and remains one of her biggest fans.
"I was thrilled," Miller says.
"It was just an absolute thrill for me. I think it's kind of the beginning of the end for a lot of people in this town.
"I would venture to say people are going to be very pleasantly surprised. First of all, she has a very high I.Q. She's tough as nails. She has no problem with stress. And she's got a super sense of humor. She's going to be good. She's going to be damn good."
Miller, whose "mikemcdonaldconnection" Web page tormented the councilman by chronicling his many controversies, downplayed rumors that he might be joining Moncrief at City Hall as a liaison. But he allowed that he'd "damn well consider it" if offered the job.
Despite failing to vote in any recent elections before her own race, Moncrief proved herself a game campaigner who genuinely wanted to run for the office.
Now she must show that she wants to serve and follow the rules of public life.
As an aside, the efforts of Southern Nevada organized labor weren't nearly enough to save McDonald's foundering campaign. The unions ran members to early voting sites, but it appears the rank and file liked Moncrief, too. That means organized labor's vans actually took Moncrief voters to the polls.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how many consulting deals McDonald lands now that he's leaving City Hall.
F(REEZER) B(URN) I(NVESTIGATION): The exploits of recent column subject John T. Hanson, the FBI supervisory special agent who shot a freezer at the Barbary Coast, have saturated bureau computers, informed sources report.
TAX MAN: Knight Allen, whose accomplished knowledge of tax issues puts him at odds with those seeking to add as much as $1 billion to the burden of the state's taxpayers, responded to a recent column on the subject in which I called for compromise.
"Those who have 'dug in deep' in their opposition to an income tax are doing the right thing. Are you seriously suggesting those doing the right thing should capitulate to those who want to do the wrong thing in the name of 'compromise?' " Allen says.
ON THE BOULEVARD: With due respect to marketing geniuses in the local gaming industry, value is the one thing that never goes out of style in Las Vegas. And that makes Wendy Y. Tucker's latest edition of "777 Cheap Eats in Vegas" a sure winner for years to come. It's an incredible compilation of bargains. ... Sports betting legend Lem Banker says he thinks the championship baseball teams representing the Community College of Southern Nevada and UNLV should play a charity game with Mayor Oscar Goodman as umpire. People would come from miles around just to boo the ump. ... Former heavyweight boxing champion Michael Dokes is due to graduate from college later this summer. He's been attending the University of Jean on a domestic violence rap.
Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0295.
