Political Eye: Goodmans selling arena dreams; Coffin not buying

The Goodman family has loomed large over Las Vegas City Hall for more than a decade, but there's at least one person willing to question their grandest ambition - a shiny new professional sports arena downtown.

Councilman Bob Coffin, a former state senator serving his first term on the council, recently sent City Manager Betsy Fretwell an email questioning the wisdom of working to lure professional basketball or hockey to Las Vegas, especially if it involves taxpayer money.

"I frankly do not know how you personally feel about the pursuit of a sports team of any type but you can be sure the League will want all of the profits and none of the losses," Coffin wrote, adding, "Due to Open Meeting Law restrictions I cannot send this letter to all Council members so I hope that you will do that for me."

Coffin said he was inspired to send the email after reading an article about financial woes facing Glendale, Ariz., due in part to that's city's decision to partially fund a football stadium.

Coffin sent the email knowing Mayor Carolyn Goodman and her husband, former Mayor Oscar Goodman, have put attracting an NBA or NHL team to Las Vegas at the top of their priority lists.

"I do not know what the mayor has done on it lately, but I know she and Oscar have been talking about doing it for years," Coffin said. "The downside is pretty high risk."

Coffin said although he would be open to arena proposals that don't involve risking taxpayer money, he wouldn't want to spend much time on it.

"I don't think the town is screaming for a professional team. We have a lot of things to do before we do that," he said.

The city has an exclusive negotiating agreement with the Cordish Companies to seek a pro sports partner for downtown Las Vegas, but so far the deal hasn't borne fruit.

Carolyn Goodman responded to a question about Coffin's skeptical note with an email of her own.

"Any arena plan would have to make sense fiscally for the city and the residents, and the decision would ultimately be made by the City Council," she wrote.

Fretwell, whose comment was sought through a spokesperson, did not respond.

- Benjamin Spillman

BOY IS REID'S FACE RED

Sen. Harry Reid was showing red marks on his face last week after a visit to the doctor.

The scars - two on each cheek - were visible to viewers on C-SPAN, to the point where the Senate majority leader commented on them during a speech Thursday.

The marks are "from being very pale and living in the desert most of my life," Reid, D-Nev., said.

Reid said Friday through a spokeswoman he underwent a procedure that utilized a laser gun to remove threads of veins that were becoming noticeable on his face. He said the scars were expected to heal.

The procedure was "purely cosmetic," spokeswoman Kristen Orthman said.

Reid, 73, has undergone other skin procedures. In 2007 he had three precancerous growths removed from his face, attributed at the time to his skin type and exposure to the sun.

In his speech Thursday, Reid joked that the scars "had nothing to do with the fiscal cliff or the disagreements that Speaker Boehner and I had." That was a reference to reports that Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, told Reid to "go f--- yourself" a week ago during negotiations over taxes and spending.

- Steve Tetreault

HELLER NAMED TO FIVE COMMITTEES

Sen. Dean Heller's new term comes with a full workload, as he said Thursday he'll be sitting on five legislative committees.

The Nevada Republican newly sworn in for a full six-year term will join the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and the Committee on Veterans Affairs. He will return to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the Special Committee on Aging.

On the Banking Committee, Heller fills a Republican opening created suddenly when Jim DeMint of South Carolina resigned from the Senate to head the Heritage Foundation.

The Nevadan had been eyeing the Banking Committee as a field of interest after working as a stockbroker on the Pacific Stock Exchange early in his career and after serving for a short while on the House Financial Services Committee.

He said the banking assignment gives him a look at foreclosure prevention, still a major concern in Nevada. The Veterans Affairs Committee reviews the workings of health and benefit programs for retiring service members.

The Energy and Natural Resources Committee gives Heller a platform for rural and public land legislation and for energy issues growing in the West.

Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, does not sit on any committees but maintains a voice on legislation through an extensive staff and his power as leader.

- Steve Tetreault

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285. Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Follow him on Twitter @STetreaultDC.