Reporters’ Notebook

Democratic gubernatorial candidate recently had an out-of-party experience.

At a Clark County Commission meeting, callers were allowed to testify by speakerphone. One caller who had waited on the line said nothing when prompted.

"Caller, are you there?" asked Commission Chairman Rory Reid. "I feel like Rush Limbaugh, and that is an uncomfortable feeling."

SCOTT WYLAND

OVERHEARD ON THE SCANNER: "Calm down, Mini-Me."

Ruben Murillo is not only the president of the teachers' union, he also is a screenwriter, penning a lost episode of the "Golden Girls" sitcom for his union's newsletter, the Clark County Education Association Express.

Rose, the character played by Betty White, recalls teachers in her hometown of St. Olaf, Minn., obligingly made sacrifices, such as freezing their annual pay raises and taking furlough days, to help their school district out of a financial bind.

Such naivete is quickly admonished with a "Hello, Rose?" from the older and wiser Sophia, the character played by Estelle Getty, in Murillo's script.

Last week, the teachers' union reached a tentative accord with the School District to give up pay raises based on teachers' years of experience.

JAMES HAUG

OVERHEARD ON THE SCANNER: "Male left voluntarily, forever hopefully."

Attention law enforcement officers working the Helldorado Days parade: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman may try something sneaky.

He is excited because he's going to be in a Bentley convertible during the parade, which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Saturday downtown.

"I may keep going, too," he said last week. "I might go right down to Fremont and get on the highway."

Oscar Goodman, bandito.

ALAN CHOATE