Nevada representatives become newest odd couple in Congress

Last week marked not only the opening of a new Congress in Washington but also the beginning of another grand experiment — a shared living arrangement for two Nevada lawmakers.

Reps. Mark Amodei and Cresent Hardy, both R-Nev., commenced sharing an apartment in a new complex about a half-mile from their Capitol Hill offices. They signed a 17-month lease at $2,500 monthly for a two-bedroom place, Amodei said.

For Amodei, the apartment is a step up from the studios he has inhabited since arriving in Washington in September 2011 — and at prices that were more than he is splitting now with Hardy.

“I walked into this place and I was like — my God, this is four times bigger than I have ever seen,” he said. “We can rent the living room out to somebody and hell, I could live in the closet, in the bathroom. That’s as big as I’m used to.”

Amodei, a Republican from Carson City, said he was paying $2,000 a month for his old studio but ditched it and slept on an inflatable mattress in his office the last half of last year when the House spent more time out of session than in Washington. “I was like, I am not spending ten thousand bucks to sleep in a place for 23 nights.”

Amodei and Hardy had talked about rooming together during the fall campaigns. Amodei said he figured it would never happen, but lo and behold, Hardy pulled out a surprise victory in November. The Mesquite Republican was sworn into office last Tuesday.

For now, the roommates are adjusting to each other. Hardy had his recliner shipped East. Amodei pulled his out of storage. As they were preparing to hook up the cable TV, Amodei wanted to make sure they subscribed to his favorite channel, Encore Westerns, that features old cowboy movies.

Amodei said he has learned he can get a rise out of Hardy by pointing out the roommate went to tiny Virgin Valley High School while Amodei attended the larger Carson High. That was decades ago, but “of course that’s the automatic button to push with anybody from small town Nevada,” Amodei said.

Like all roommates who see themselves as an odd couple, Amodei and Hardy have yet to figure out which one is Oscar and which one is Felix. They both claim they’re Felix. Or Felix-like.

“I’m not particular. I just like to keep my stuff squared away,” Amodei said.

— Steve Tetreault

McDONALD COMEBACK?

Michael McDonald, who served two terms on the Las Vegas City Council from 1995 through June 2003, is thinking of running for his old Ward 1 post again.

Lois Tarkanian currently holds the Ward 1 seat and has said she plans to run for re-election this year. Her plans could affect McDonald’s plans since the two have known one another for several decades.

“It’s clearly dependent on what the family does,” McDonald said last week when asked whether he would run against Tarkanian if necessary. “I’ve got 30 years of friendship with the family. We’re all neighbors. It’s a matter of discussion.”

McDonald wouldn’t rule out running if Tarkanian goes forward with a re-election bid, but he said he wants to sit down and talk to the councilwoman first before announcing any formal plans.

Now chairman of the Nevada Republican Party, McDonald said he plans to maintain that post until his term ends in November even if he runs for the City Council this spring. The state party largely has been sidelined since its takeover a couple of years ago by supporters of former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who ran twice for president.

Meanwhile, the Clark County Republican Party had taken the lead in organizing Southern Nevada with GOP Gov. Brian Sandoval also running his own political operation to help elect Republicans.

As for Tarkanian, she’s busy with her council work but also is dealing with the fragile health of her husband, Jerry Tarkanian, the legendary former University of Nevada, Las Vegas, basketball coach who has been in and out of hospitals. She might decide not to run for re-election because of personal concerns, but for now she’s in.

Candidate filing in the nonpartisan municipal elections opens Jan. 27 and closes at 5 p.m. Feb. 5. The primary is April 7 and the general election is June 2, giving McDonald little time to decide what he’ll do.

McDonald became, at age 30, the youngest person elected to the Las Vegas City Council. The former police officer won re-election in 1999 but lost his bid for a third, four-year term in 2003.

At the time of his loss, McDonald was caught up in a widespread FBI investigation into corruption, which sent several of his peers to prison. McDonald, who said he was not a target of the FBI probe, was never charged in the G-string case.

— Laura Myers

HENDERSON CAMPAIGNS START

Two Henderson City Council members are kicking off their re-election campaigns.

Councilwoman Gerri Schroder’s launch was scheduled for Saturday at Reflection Bay Golf Club. She was to be introduced by Mayor Andy Hafen and Richard Bryan, a former U.S. senator and Nevada governor.

Councilwoman Debra March’s event will be 5 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Henderson Convention Center.

The third councilman up for election this year, Sam Bateman, kicked off his campaign with a golf tournament fundraiser at Reflection Bay in October.

Anyone who wants to run for one of the three council seats, which are nonpartisan, must file between Jan. 27 and Feb. 5. Council members are elected citywide, but there can be only one member from each of the four wards.

The primary election is April 7. The general election will be June 2.

Henderson’s fourth council member, John Marz, and Mayor Andy Hafen are not up for re-election this year.

— Eric Hartley

SISOLAK KEEPS CHAIRMAN POST

Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak will continue his chairman role for the next two years.

Commissioners voted unanimously Jan. 5 to keep him as their leader. That same vote also kept commissioners in the same leadership roles and as members of various boards that they already serve on.

For example, Commissioner Lawrence Weekly will continue serving as chairman of the University Medical Center Board of Trustees, and Commissioner Larry Brown will continue to be chairman of the Clark County Water Reclamation District.

The continuity comes with the re-election of three county commissioners in November: Susan Brager, Chris Giunchigliani and Mary Beth Scow. They were sworn in Monday.

— Ben Botkin

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Follow @STetreaultDC on Twitter. Contact Laura Myers at lmyers@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919. Follow @lmyerslvrj on Twittter. Contact Eric Hartley at ehartley@reviewjournal.com or 702-550-9229. Follow @ethartley on Twitter. Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-405-9781. Follow @BenBotkin1 on Twitter.