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Rubio's cousin: His real dream was NFL commissioner
Nevada Democratic state Sen. Mo Denis remembers his Republican cousin from Florida once told him he "would rather be commissioner of the NFL than president." With his dream job currently occupied and no vacancy on the horizon, Marco Rubio, who lived in Las Vegas for six years as a kid, today announced his candidacy for his second choice.
How the Vegas mayor's race was won
I have already told you about those targeted mailers to Democrats that turned the tide for Carolyn Goodman against Stavros Anthony, the soon to be ex-mayor-pro-tem. Now, courtesy of an exclusive guest piece from Goodman campaign boss Braley Mayer, how the race was won:
My tribute to Gary Gray
(This aired last night on "Ralston Live." Sorry, no video available.) Gary Gray wasn’t the kind of guy to brag about how many campaign he won. But in the last 30 years, he may have won more races than any other consultant in the state. Gray died Thursday at the age of 69 in a car accident. But it was no accident that his talents were sought after by candidates at every level – from local officials to lawmakers to governors.
Schism surfaces between state pot legalization effort and national group
The state group trying to legalize marijuana has divorced itself from a national organization, which has set up a separate PAC in Nevada.
Switch, three major gaming companies file notice of exiting from NV Energy
UPDATED: I have obtained the amendment being floated by Switch to dramatically change the statute under which ratepayers can leave the NV Energy grid, making it much easier and cheaper. I have attached it here.
The small business conventional wisdom about competing tax plans is wrong
Assemblyman Derek Armstrong, the sponsor of the GOP tax bill that relies on the payroll tax, insisted during Tuesday's hearing that his plan was the friendliest to small businesses. Every lawmaker on the Tax Committee seemed to declare himself or herself a member of the Small Business Lobby. Advocates for truckers, auto dealers, manufacturers and retailers testified they liked the bill better than Gov.
Stavros Anthony=SarahPalin=Sharron Angle
Worried that Councilman Stavros Anthony was giving Her Honor a real race, Mayor Carolyn Goodman's team hired targeting expert Billy Rogers, who produced devastating mailers that may have turned the tide. The race is nonpartisan. But it became partisan.
No-tax folks to back tax increase, other bills to move/die before the deadline
When the Assembly tax bill is heard Tuesday, members of the Just Say No to Taxes Every Session Caucus will testify for the measure, thus showing true consensus growing around Gov. Brian Sandoval's budget number of $7.3 billion.
Trial lawyers trade group sends alert to members after GOP chair hired by prominent attorney
Michael McDonald is the chairman of the Nevada Republican Party. Republican lawmakers are trying to pass tort reform now that they control both houses. And Michael McDonald has been hired by perhaps the state's best-known lawyer as tort reform bills are pending. Yes, this is Nevada. McDonald recently registered for Glenn Lerner, the attorney who constantly advertises on TV, and trial lawyer sources say the GOP chair has solicited other members of the trade group to ask for payment in return for helping to kill tort reform. (McDonald did not return a request for comment.)
Carolyn tries to close the deal with strongly worded letter from Oscar
Early voting is over, only 9 percent of voters have cast ballots in the Las Vegas mayor's race, so Carolyn Goodman is bringing in her not-so-secret weapon: Oscar Goodman. In a new piece, the former mayor goes after Councilman Stavros Anthony as being essentially a mute when King Oscar was there and of uttering "lies and hypocrisy" as he tries to take the Goodman family seat. Oh, and he calls him "an empty suit." I have been saying for weeks that this kind of campaign going after Anthony indicates the race is in doubt. The brutal Oscar closer proves it.