Clark County vote rigging claims smacked down by integrity
The drumbeat from Republican Party operatives about possible voting irregularities continues apace with the latest tale of a possible inside attempt to rig voting machines at the county.
The trouble with the rumors is, they stop at the desk of double tough and absolutely square Registrar of Voters Larry Lomax.
Challenging the vote is one thing. Taking a shot at Lomax's integrity will backfire. Election critics try it at their own risk.
WHAT THE HECK: Congressional candidate Dr. Joe Heck made a number of animated enemies while contracted to represent Metro on disability insurance claims. He sided with the department and made some controversial calls, which is bound to happen in that position.
It also makes good political grist in a tough election year. Incumbent Rep. Dina Titus is exploiting Heck's decision making, but she waited until very late in the campaign to do so.
Heck is calling it a dirty trick.
Will it go down as a game-saver for Titus or a missed opportunity?
VOTE NOTES: Clark County School District teachers are having back-to-back staff development days on Monday and Tuesday just in time for Election Day. Strip casino workers are chattering about the buses their bosses are making available to escort voters to the polls. For the record, just how many out-of-state political ground troops have the Republicans and Democrats brought in to get out the vote and watch the polls? I hear the number is in the hundreds. In the wake of Newt Gingrich's recent public display of affection for Sharron Angle, Jeb Bush dropped into Las Vegas with a much lower profile. I think they were both carrying their 2012 desk calendars.
'KMART IDOL?': While neighborhood heat and family medical issues have pressured Dr. Lonnie Hammargren into canceling his entertaining annual Nevada Day celebration at his home that shouts eccentricity, entertainer Wayne Newton is trying to do essentially the same thing on a full-time basis -- turn his home into a museum.
I appreciate Newton is a Las Vegas legend and all, but with the local economy in the tank, isn't there an abandoned Kmart somewhere to put all his memorabilia?
I kid the Wayner.
But a smart VP at a struggling Strip resort or downtown casino should suggest turning an empty convention hall into Newton's museum. There's plenty of empty convention space at some joints these days, and there has to be room downtown near the Mob Museum.
It sure doesn't belong in a residential area.
HORREBEL FOOTBALL: If you're talented UNLV wide receiver Phillip Payne, do you really want to return to action after a two-game suspension Saturday against bruising No. 4 Texas Christian at Sam Boyd Stadium?
GOOD COP: Retired Metro detective Ed Landino died of a heart attack on Monday. Ed was a gifted undercover cop who knew every back alley on the Westside and as a detective worked throughout Metro and spent plenty of time in the Intelligence Bureau.
BOOK REPORT: Todd James Pierce and Jarret Keene have assembled an entertaining sci-fi collection just released by the University of Nevada Press called "Dead Neon: Tales of Near-Future Las Vegas." It includes the work of several of my favorite local writers, Vu Tran and P Moss among them.
ON THE BOULEVARD: Cliff Lee's Game 1 World Series performance aside, for my money Rancho High grad and current Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux is the best in the business. The Chianti Café in Summerlin continues to be a locals favorite for fans of that great old Vegas vibe. The Daily Beast calls Las Vegas the dumbest city and Boston the smartest. It makes a good argument that leaves me with just two words for brilliant and boastful Bostonians: Big Dig.
Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.
