Gibbons confident of re-election chances

CARSON CITY -- Although trailing in the polls, an upbeat Gov. Jim Gibbons filed Thursday for re-election to a second, four-year term.

"Run hard, make a lot of speeches and shake as many hands as I can," Gibbons said about the strategy he will use as he prepares for a June 8 Republican primary against former federal Judge Brian Sandoval and former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon. Republican Stan Lusak of Fallon, a newcomer to the race, filed March 3.

A recent poll commissioned by the Review-Journal showed Gibbons trailed Sandoval by 7 percentage points, a sharp improvement from an October poll that showed him lagging by 21 points.

The governor said there are always people upset with governors when they have to reduce state spending, but that they will take a second look at him and his stances once the primary election approaches.

Gibbons said he expects to win and that he will continue to oppose increasing taxes on citizens and businesses.

In particular, he said that if re-elected he will oppose moves in the Legislature next year to reauthorize $780 million in tax increases approved in 2009. Legislators increased car registration taxes, business license fees, payroll taxes paid by employees and the state sales tax rate. He vetoed the tax increases, but legislators overrode his vetoes.

These tax increases expire on June 30, 2011, unless legislators vote to reauthorize them.

Gibbons said the state's 13 percent unemployment rate was "all due to the tax increases."

State Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, challenged the governor's view last month after Gibbons made a similar claim. Raggio noted that Nevada is not suffering alone with a high unemployment rate that is largely because of the national and global recession.

Raggio and Democratic leaders, however, all praised Gibbons for working with them to reach a solution to cover a more than $800 million revenue shortfall during the special legislative session that ended March 1.

"I took it upon myself to make something happen during the special session," Gibbons said Thursday. "If necessary in the future to make something happen, I will do it again."

Gibbons said Sandoval needs to prove to voters that he really is a conservative.

In response, Sandoval said he was "very proud of my fiscally conservative record as a legislator and the attorney general."

"The governor, despite his claims to the contrary, raised taxes and fees during the special session," Sandoval said.

He noted the governor supported $54 million in higher fees on mining, banking and business incorporating in the state. He also increased taxes in Clark County by making permanent a one-eighth of a cent sales tax charge that residents pay for highway construction, according to Sandoval.

Rory Reid, the leading Democratic challenger for the governor's job, declined comment on Gibbons' filing.

His spokesman, Mike Trask, said Reid normally would comment, but is most concerned now about his mother, Landra, who was injured in a car accident Thursday in Washington, D.C.

While the state could face a record $3 billion revenue shortfall at the time the Legislature convenes in February, Gibbons said he intends to maintain his no-new-taxes stance if re-elected.

"Our ability to survive in the future depends on the ability of individuals and the ability of government to live within their means," Gibbons said.

Gibbons' chances for re-election are hampered because he reported in January that he had raised only $165,000 in campaign contributions, and spent all but $35,000. In contrast, Sandoval reported contributions of $900,000 and Montandon, $300,000.

The governor acknowledged he cannot solicit for contributions again for another week because of a law that prevents legislators and others from seeking funds within 15 days before and 15 days after a legislative session.

Still, he said he was confident he can raise enough money to run a credible campaign.

"It will be a very difficult, but challenging race," he said. "We are up to it. We have the right strategy."

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.