In search for new wave of candidates, Democrats pursue diversity

To hear Nevada Republicans shout it, Campaign 2010 will be the year of the Tea Party and a return to the GOP's cherished core conservative values of the past.

The voices of Nevada Democrats, meanwhile, aren't echoing angrily from Searchlight to Elko. The theme of their rallying cry is different, too.

But from the look of activity inside the Assembly Democratic Caucus, the party is displaying how much it values diversity -- especially participation of women and Hispanics in a tough election year. Tonight at BOA Steakhouse inside the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, the innocuous-sounding Leadership 2010 Political Action Committee will play host to a fundraiser to benefit women Democratic Assembly candidates, a number of whom are running for the first time.

On the surface, it's a typical PAC fundraiser, perhaps more challenging because of a down economy and a sense of "fundraising fatigue."

But this event illustrates what is arguably the largest concerted effort to recruit women and minority candidates in the history of the Legislature. It comes at a time of great transition inside the state's lawmaking body. Of the 13 women serving in the Assembly, six are either not seeking re-election or are term-limited. (Of those 13, 11 are Democrats.)

One of those hit by term limits was Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley. Buckley, you will recall, was the first woman Assembly speaker in Nevada history. Her replacement, North Las Vegas Fire Department Assistant Chief John Oceguera, has made promoting diversity a priority within his caucus.

Of the 10 Democrats recruited by the caucus, eight are women. Of those, four are Hispanic. African-American Jason Frierson has been recruited to run for Buckley's Assembly seat.

Obviously, this is a party philosophy at work and an election strategy in action.

While some Democratic war-horse candidates argue a group endorsement by the caucus in the primary erodes loyalties and is bad for morale, and others contend diversity for diversity's sake is short-sighted, incoming Speaker Oceguera shrugs off such arguments.

"It's the people's house, and I think it should be reflective of the community," Oceguera says, reminding skeptics the Legislature's demographic makeup has never really reflected this diverse state. "We will increase our diversity significantly."

Is it a sincere effort to welcome women and minorities, a crass bit of political pandering to get out the vote, or a little of both?

It will be an interesting trend to track: Will the increased recruitment of women and Hispanics translate into a greater voter turnout in what stacks up to be a down year for Democrats?

It will also be intriguing to see whether the Republican Party counters with diverse candidate images of its own. (Venezuela-born Republican Tibi Ellis, for instance, is running for the Assembly.)

But it's more than just recruitment, Oceguera says. Like their Republican counterparts, the Democrats are developing what is essentially a candidate training camp that covers everything from fundraising to policy discussions and includes field trips to mental health centers, prisons, welfare offices and other places touched by actions at the Legislature.

"It's really a whole new ballgame," he says, noting everything from the increased use of social networking to the importance of old-fashioned shoe-leather campaigning. "It's a challenge. We just have to be more innovative now."

Oceguera appears well aware that not only is the opposition better organized and motivated than in past years, but that the eyes of his fellow Democrats are watching to see how adeptly he picks up where the well-respected Buckley left off.

Call it diversity for diversity's sake, if you'd like.

At a time much of the press is chattering about the Year of the Tea Party, the Assembly Democrats are giving Nevadans who cherish diversity something to shout about.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.