Don’t expect 17 other candidates to concede to mayor’s wife
Some pundits already have made Carolyn Goodman a near-lock to succeed husband Oscar Goodman as mayor of Las Vegas. But she has decided to campaign anyway.
Candidate Goodman's campaign kickoff is set for
5 p.m. today at her headquarters at 3828 Meadows Lane. Open to the public. Sandwiches, sodas, and some grinning guy gripping a martini glass and walking around with absolutely nothing to do.
Not to rain on the Goodman Family Dynasty parade, but I think she'll need to spend every waking minute working between now and the April primary to defeat a competitive field. Campaigns are often little more than popularity contests, but this one could get interesting very soon.
Mayoral challenger Chris Giunchigliani has run 10 races (eight Assembly and two County Commission) and never lost. Mayoral candidate Larry Brown has split time between the City Council and County Commission for the past 14 years -- and has yet to lose a race.
Giunchigliani's campaign fire-starter drew more than 200 members of Southern Nevada's politically active ethnic communities. It's clear Giunchigliani will play to her strengths.
Expect a lot of political markers to be called in -- especially inside local organized labor, where several contenders have long-standing relationships. And it also will be intriguing to see which direction the law enforcement and downtown business association endorsements fall.
It's hardly news in politics that anyone can be beaten, especially in a short race. This sprint of a political campaign is just breaking out of the starting blocks.
Meanwhile, candidate George Harris is a certified underdog in the 18-person race. But the co-owner of the popular Mundo restaurant at the World Market Center downtown is guaranteed to have the best campaign cuisine.
His campaign kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday with complimentary appetizers, 2-for-1 beer and Alien Tequila margarita specials, and live music.
Who should cover the event, the political reporter, or the food critic?
While we're on the subject, a group of downtown business owners and their representatives have scheduled a mayoral candidate's forum for Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. at the El Cortez. Forum organizer Terry Murphy says up to seven candidates are expected.
The audience will include members of the Downtown Las Vegas Alliance, Fremont Street Experience, Fremont East Board, and the 18 B Las Vegas Arts District.
The downside: It's closed to the press.
Can we do something about that?
BROWN TRIBUTE: Las Vegas emergency room physician Michael Brown lost his brother, FDNY Capt. Patrick "Paddy" Brown, at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
Like so many Americans, Dr. Brown struggled to come to terms with his personal loss at a time when the whole nation was in mourning.
He has just published the touching story of what he experienced at Ground Zero in the painful days after Sept. 11. His book is titled "What Brothers Do." It's available online through virtualbookworm.com and deserves a wide readership.
Brother Paddy would be proud.
BUCZEK RETIRING: Veteran Metro detective James Buczek, who investigated the death of troubled casino man Ted Binion and the kidnapping of 6-year-old Cole Puffinburger, has decided to retire. His latest assignment has been working Metro's cold case homicides.
The understated Buczek was a lead investigator in the drug-related quadruple homicide that in May 2005 sent Donte Johnson to Nevada's Death Row.
Buczek's last day is scheduled for March 2.
ON THE BOULEVARD: What was Metro up to Monday at the Hell's Angels clubhouse on Torrey Pines Drive? Mount Charleston residents on Thursday night continued their grass-roots campaign to keep open Nevada Division of Forestry Station 1, which is slated for closure under Gov. Brian Sandoval's current budget proposal.
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.
