Surprises unfolding in Carson City

By Jon Ralston

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.

Lots of developments in the capital as The Man Formerly Known as Governor really doesn’t want to be in the state anymore, the tax plan comes together and another GOP candidate surfaces in the race for governor:

The battle of the unfavorables: If you think about it, it makes perfect sense and solves two problems for the GOP with one candidacy.

Sources confirm that Gov. Jim Gibbons recently met in Washington, D.C., with operatives from the National Senatorial Campaign Committee to discuss his potential candidacy against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Sources close to Gibbons say the governor has become acutely aware that he has almost no chance of winning reelection because of his low favorables, currently hovering around 20 percent.

But, the argument has been made, Reid has very high unfavorables, too, and many of Gibbons’ faults might be washed out in a contest against the man Republicans love to revile. Local and national GOP strategists favor the move because it once again makes the party viable in the governor’s race and gives it a first-tier contender against Reid.

“I can only confirm that Gov. Gibbons met with Sen. (John) Cornyn (the head of the NRSC) and that we consider him a fine candidate against a majority leader out of touch with the American public,” said K. Durant Stover, a spokeswoman for the NRSC.

Sen. John Ensign is said to be supportive of the move, but some in the GOP wonder if the Republican is actually trying to help his friend, Reid, by pushing the governor into the contest. Others say, though, that the beauty of the maneuver for Ensign is he can tell Reid he is doing him a favor while knowing that in polling done for the NRSC, Gibbons and Reid are in a dead heat.

Gibbons’ office did not return repeated phone calls and e-mail.

Everyone but locals will love it when this tax plan comes together: Sources confirm that during meetings of the so-called core group of legislators during the past few weeks, they have agreed on the contours of the tax plan to be unveiled as soon as Friday. For those who have titles in Las Vegas or Clark County, get ready to practice your primal screams.

The plan, the brainchild of Assemblywomen Marilyn Kirkpatrick and Debbie Smith, would pull the city’s charter, thus abolishing its redevelopment district and putting it under state control. The other part of the bill to be introduced this week would remove oversight of the Las Vegas Strip — and the concomitant revenue — from the County Commission and give it to the state.

The diversion of money from the two Southern Nevada governments is expected to net the state a half-billion dollars over the biennium. When asked about the possible devastating effects on the local governments, one insider said, “I think Speaker (Barbara) Buckley wants to send Commission Chairman (Rory) Reid a clear message about his so-called anointment for governor.”

As for pulling the city’s charter, both Kirkpatrick and Smith suggested that the public would be all for more state control of Oscarworld, especially after the unfavorable publicity about the mayor’s city hall boondoggle. “They (Smith and Kirkpatrick) figure by yanking the charter, forcing the city to merge with the county and diverting some of the tax revenue to the state, they will take care of a huge part of the deficit and create an ongoing revenue stream,” said one lobbyist with knowledge of the plan.

Get ready to cover your ears, folks.

From Gondolier Numero Uno’s Numero Uno to the state’s Numero Uno? Some in the capital were surprised Tuesday to see Bill Weidner, the recently departed Sheldon Adelson lieutenant, meeting with various lobbyists and GOP legislators. And, I am reliably informed, they weren’t talking about legislation.

Seems Weidner, unaware of Gibbons’ plan to not seek reelection, is not spending his forced retirement idly. Weidner has always been interested in politics and was a founding father of the Nevada Policy Research Institute. But he is looking to be more than a spectator in 2010.

As he told almost anyone who would listen Tuesday in the Legislative Building, Weidner has decided to run for governor on the GOP ticket next year. Weidner, like many Republicans, is disgusted with Gibbons, especially because Las Vegas Sands and its allies helped fund the incumbent’s campaign.

“Talk about buyer’s remorse,” Weidner was overheard to say. “Now I know how Sands shareholders feel.”

Expect an announcement soon.

Oh, and one more thing:

Happy April Fool’s Day.