Rory Reid instigates impromptu debate with Brian Sandoval

Nevada Democrat Rory Reid on Wednesday said he was tired of waiting for a debate with his Republican opponent for governor, Brian Sandoval.

So Reid decided to organize one himself.

At a Nevada Subcontractors Association luncheon both candidates attended at the Eastside Cannery, Reid goaded Sandoval into joining him onstage and insisted on taking questions from the audience.

It was an attempt by Reid, who trails Sandoval by double-digits in statewide polls, to shake up a gubernatorial race in which both candidates have been criticized for avoiding tough stances.

"Come on up here and answer a few questions," Reid said to Sandoval, who was seated in the audience.

The two candidates took questions and debated for about 15 minutes before Cindy Creighton, executive director of the association, pressed the candidates to return to the planned format.

Earlier, Creighton had tried to discourage Reid by saying there were no microphones for audience members to use to ask questions.

"They can just scream at us. They're used to it," Reid said, batting the concern away, and the debate was on.

They answered questions about education and retirement benefits for public employees.

On education, each candidate touted his own plan for Nevada's schools.

Reid accused Sandoval of planning to cut education, not reform it.

"If we follow Brian's original plans on education, we would be out of our minds," Reid said.

Sandoval said his plan would implement merit pay for teachers and reward good schools. He referenced Nevada's last-in-the-nation graduation rate.

"I don't want to have to stand here four years from now and talk about the fact we are last," Sandoval said. "I want to talk about that we made more progress than any other state in the United States."

On public employee retirement programs, Sandoval said he would favor shifting from a defined-benefit to defined-contribution plans for future state employees.

Reid, chairman of the Clark County Commission, referenced his public dispute with members of the Clark County Fire Department.

Reid supports measures to save money on compensation costs by eliminating some firefighting units. The firefighters' union has launched a public relations campaign to attack Reid for his stance.

"I followed up those words with action, that's why I have got firefighters following me everywhere I go," Reid said.

Both candidates said they support changing a law the construction industry says results in costly and frivolous lawsuits against builders.

And after appearing a bit surprised by Reid's challenge, Sandoval recovered and managed to banter back-and-forth with his opponent.

"You don't have to let me go," Sandoval quipped after Reid said he would let Sandoval speak, drawing laughter from the audience of nearly 200 members of the association, public officials and candidates for office.

It was the first public forum featuring both major-party candidates for governor, and Reid was prepared to make it count.

In addition to the debate challenge, he cited moving stories shared with him by individuals on the campaign trail and dropped hints about his plan to balance the state budget, which could be upside down by as much as $3 billion for the 2011-13 biennium.

Reid also mentioned his father, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., twice during his remarks.

Rory Reid has been accused of downplaying his relationship with his father, who has low approval ratings statewide and is in a tough re-election battle with Republican challenger Sharron Angle.

"Frankly my father's example had a lot to do with why I got into the race, things he taught me," he said.

Afterward he said he wasn't running away from his father's record.

"I think what has happened is his opponents have tried to make hay, and they're trying to suggest I'm somehow trying to distance myself from my father," he said. "That couldn't be further from the truth."

Sandoval's prepared remarks were mainly devoted to a rundown of his biography and experience as a federal judge, attorney general, Gaming Commission chairman and assemblyman.

Sandoval emphasized what he would do to attract businesses to Nevada. He cited a letter he said he received about the potential relocation of motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson, Inc., from Milwaukee.

"Why can't they come here to the state of Nevada?" Sandoval said. "So I'm going to reach out today and call them and say 'Nevada wants you.' "

Sandoval spokeswoman Mary-Sarah Kinner characterized the letter as personal correspondence and said the campaign wouldn't release it. She added that it was from "an individual with knowledge" the company is considering a move.

A spokesman from Harley-Davidson did not return a call for comment Wednesday. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported the company would consider moving to cut costs.

"Our preference is to keep the production operations in Wisconsin, but as part of due diligence, we will also explore alternate U.S. sites" if necessary, company spokesman Bob Klein said in an April 29 Journal Sentinel article.

Both Sandoval and Reid maintained their vows not to raise taxes. Reid elaborated slightly, saying he has plans to consolidate redundant programs and departments. But he wouldn't say which ones or whether it would result in layoffs.

"I'm going to announce my plan in the coming days. We'll have a discussion of it then," Reid said.

Reid said he decided to put Sandoval on the spot in person after the two candidates drew cards to decide who would speak first.

Sandoval drew the five of diamonds and Reid the ace of spades, giving the Democrat the chance to speak first and throw down the challenge.

"I thought that the people of Nevada deserved their two candidates for governor to give something other than a canned speech," Reid said afterward.

Later he said: "Brian has been hiding, and that is an arrogant approach."

Sandoval disputed the characterization by Reid that he has been ducking debates.

"We have four debates that are scheduled. There are going to be two in Las Vegas, one in Reno and one in Elko," Sandoval said. "That will be probably more than any other campaign cycle before in terms of the gubernatorial race."

Later, Kinner went further to refute Reid's accusations that Sandoval is ducking or hiding.

"Rory Reid has based his campaign on one lie after another," Kinner said. "This is beginning to look like the desperate acts of a failing campaign."

She provided a list of 39 interviews and public appearances Sandoval has made since June 9, the day after he defeated incumbent Gov. Jim Gibbons in the Republican primary election.

Republican political consultant Ryan Erwin, who isn't involved in the gubernatorial race, praised Reid's move to challenge Sandoval to a debate.

"I wasn't at the subcontractors meeting, but I think it was aggressive and smart of Reid to pull Sandoval up for an impromptu debate," Erwin said. "Gutsy."

But Reid still faces an uphill battle. Sandoval has maintained a double-digit lead in public opinion polls for months.

"Rory can still win this race, but he has a lot of ground to make up, and Sandoval is a good candidate with a good team," Erwin said. "They aren't going to make a lot of mistakes."

Reid said he is just getting started.

"I think the most important thing in politics is momentum; I don't think there is any question that I have it," he said. "There is a lot of time left, and these early polls are going to be a distant memory soon."

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.