Tequila Party animal: Harris enters mayor’s race

George Harris isn’t the favorite in the Las Vegas Mayor’s race, but he has the best shot.

Shot of tequila, that is.

Harris, best known locally for his firebrand Republican Party politics, is part-owner of “Mundo: A Culinary Haute Spot” Mexican restaurant in the World Market Center downtown and is also the developer of the Alien Tequila brand.

Despised by Democrats, merely hated by soft-shell Republicans, and revered by staunch conservatives, Harris was set to file Tuesday in the increasingly crowded race to replace three-term Martini Mayor, Oscar Goodman. Before City Hall switches its libation-of-choice from Bombay Sapphire gin to Alien Tequila, Harris has a long way to go in the fundraising department.

Union activist and City Councilman Steve Ross decided this week that he’s not too boring to do the mayor’s job. County Commissioner Larry Brown also made it official just weeks – or is it months? - after he put up his first billboard. Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani has also declared her candidacy – and not just to stick it to her fellow commissioner Mr. Brown.

Former used-car salesman Joe Falco also filed for the office on Tuesday. Used-car sales? Sounds like a prerequisite for the job.

Other candidates include Katie Duncan, Abdul H. Shabazz, Tim Gamble, Larry Jeppeson, and Marlene Rogoff, who appeared at the Election Department accompanied by showgirls and a pair of Chippendale’s dancers. Nice touch – if a little imitative of Goodman’s two-showgirls shtick.

The list of mayoral candidates is growing longer than the line at the state unemployment office.

Expect more downtown business owners and perhaps a wealthy wild card or two to enter the race in a field that is sure to reach a dozen.

Harris is sure to try to impress the press by reminding reporters that he has experience employing people and signing paychecks, but I think he might be overestimating the attention spans of the media and the masses. Most folks just don't care that much about the mayor's race.

As I am incredibly gifted at giving campaign advice, here’s some for the Tequila Party standard bearer. Harris is sure to impress some voters with this campaign slogan: “I’m not the favorite, but I have the best shot.”

Meanwhile, I note with interest that Harris’ campaign manager is former state Sen. Bob Beers. To recap: A candidate from the Tequila Party with a campaign manager named Beers.

I’d say the intoxicating 2011 mayor’s race has officially begun.