Giunchigliani considering a run for mayor

Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani is considering a run for mayor of Las Vegas, telling me she has a passion for downtown redevelopment and can bring about change more quickly in the city than in the county.

But she’s not absolutely sure yet. She said that over the holidays a number of people suggested she should run for mayor. “I decided that before saying no, I’d at least see if the race was open.”

Conveniently, her husband Gary Gray, a political consultant, helped her test her popularity with 17,800 robocalls Sunday. He didn’t share results, but he did share the questions.

His quizzed about five prospective candidates — his wife, announced candidates Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown and Las Vegas Councilman Steve Ross, and two others.

The two others? Carolyn Goodman, wife of the term-limited mayor, who hasn’t said she’s running (and I don’t think ever will). And he included Don Snyder, the popular businessman/philanthropist and currently the head of UNLV’s College of Hotel Administration at UNLV.

Snyder told me Wednesday he’s definitely not running, admitting he’s been asked to consider it. “I would not mind having the job, but I don’t like the process to get there,” he said, referring to elections where one's opponent defines you.

One other little hindrance, Snyder no longer lives in the city, he lives in unincorporated Clark County.

Gray had an interesting question designed to see how voters felt about his wife’s style versus other candidates.

He asked: “Mayor Goodman is term-limited and we will be voting for a new mayor this spring. After 12 years of Oscar Goodman, does Las Vegas need a new mayor who will be more of a polished insider who knows the system and goes along to get along, or do we need someone who is a bit of a maverick willing to push for new ways of doing things?

“Press 1 for a polished insider who knows the system. Press 2 for someone who is more of a maverick willing to push for new ways.”

Hmmmm. Polished insider. That has to be Brown and Ross.

A maverick willing to push for new ways? Clearly Chris Giunchigliani.

While he was kind enough to share the questions, Gray wouldn’t go so far as to share the answers.

Giunchigliani said she hasn’t set a deadline for her decision, although filing for office begins Jan. 25 and ends Feb. 4, so she doesn’t have too long.

She denied that her possible run was tied to her failure to win the four votes necessary to become chairman of the Clark County Commission. Although officially the vote was 7-0 for Susan Brager as chairman, Brager won it by getting the support of Mary Beth Scow, Steve Sisolak and the aforementioned Brown.

Giunchigliani had her own vote and the support of Tom Collins and Lawrence Weekly, but couldn’t pull a fourth vote to her side.

Mayor Goodman said Tuesday he wouldn't endorse in the primary, but might in the general election. As for his wife's entrance, he said reporters would have to ask her if she would run. She would, however, get his endorsement if she did. Presumably in the primary.