Lieutenant governor hopefuls tout their qualities for post

A man raised by circus people touted his wisdom and experience.

A man who worked his way from toilet cleaner to aviation technology firm owner said his business acumen should carry the day.

International savoir-faire was part of the Russian immigrant's pitch.

And the connections to deliver the goods is what the political scion of a Northern Nevada family said is important.

Each was talking about what qualities matter most in a candidate for lieutenant governor. But only one will be nominated for the job by Democratic voters.

On Thursday the candidates debated one last time before the start of early voting in the primary election that concludes June 8.

"I'm as serious as anybody about doing the job," said candidate Robert Goodman, who referred to his itinerant upbringing by parents who worked for a circus. "But I do not want to be involved in the politics."

Goodman, 75, called himself the most experienced of the bunch and said that sagacity would come in handy were he to become the state's next lieutenant governor.

"All I'm bringing to the table is many, many years of experience," said Goodman, who was economic development director for Nevada under former Gov. Mike O'Callaghan, who served from 1971-79.

Goodman was joined on stage by Robert Randazzo, a former commercial airline pilot and owner of an aviation simulation technology firm, who said he got his start cleaning airplane toilets; Paul Murad, who emigrated from the former Soviet Union as a teen, owns a Las Vegas real estate business and touts his travel and foreign language expertise; and Jessica Sferrazza, a Reno city councilwoman who highlighted her track record of attracting business and development to Northern Nevada. She was joined at the event by her father, former Reno Mayor Pete Sferrazza.

The victor in the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary, which is between incumbent Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and businesswoman Barbara Woollen. A statewide poll of Republicans shows Krolicki with a substantial lead.

The lieutenant governor holds the state's second-highest constitutional office, is president of the state Senate, chairman of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, chair of the Nevada Commission on Tourism and vice chair of the state Board of Transportation.

The debate, held Thursday at Main Street Station and hosted by the Democratic Lawyers Caucus, was a chance for the Democratic candidates to define themselves in a race that has no clear leader because no polling data have been made public.

Randazzo emphasized his credentials as a businessman, highlighting that his business employs people in eight states and seven countries.

"This is a job creation record I am really looking forward to holding up against the incumbent lieutenant governor," he said.

Murad, owner of a real estate brokerage firm, referred to his past work in international business development and his studies in Spain, Hong Kong and the United States, including proficiency in English, Spanish and Russian, which he said would be useful in developing overseas relationships for Nevada.

"It is an incredible experience that is going to be real, real helpful in this job as lieutenant governor," he said.

Sferrazza, who in 2000, at age 27, became the youngest-ever member of the Reno City Council, sought to emphasize her expertise in navigating government to help develop projects such as a baseball stadium in Reno and renewable energy systems for government buildings.

"In fact, we are putting solar panels on our buildings, and there will be wind turbines on top of city hall next month," she said. "I plan to take those initiatives statewide."

The testy moments between the candidates were subtle and short-lived. After Murad described his "50-50 Plan", a proposal to recruit business to Nevada from the 50 largest foreign and domestic companies not already doing business in the state, Randazzo remarked that economic development should be focused on small businesses.

Randazzo's short-term plan included a proposal to have the state do more business with small and minority-owned companies.

After the debate, Randazzo addressed another simmering dispute with Murad.

It stemmed from an incident about two weeks ago in which Randazzo said he confronted Murad in the parking area outside an office where each was heading for an endorsement interview. Murad was taking pictures of Randazzo's truck, and Randazzo said he asked him to stop.

Murad said he was documenting the fact Randazzo drives a large truck, which Murad said runs counter to "green" rhetoric the Democratic candidates embrace.

During the debate it was Goodman who did the most to keep the mood loose with some self-deprecating humor and compliments for his opponents.

In response to an economic question that referred to the lieutenant governor's role as chairman of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, Goodman quipped: "Because of the talent at this table today, I'd probably fire all the staff of the economic development and hire all these people."

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