Columnist Jeff German: Republicans stung by infighting over governor's race

THE HOTLY CONTESTED Republican race for governor has created a deep rift within the Nevada GOP.

The infighting comes just in time to liven things up for the Sept. 1 primary election.

This week the Clark County Republican Central Committee, led by supporters of gubernatorial candidate Aaron Russo, passed a resolution calling for the resignation of state party Chairman John Mason.

And in Reno the Washoe County Republican Central Committee voted to censure the party boss.

The reason?

Mason was among a large contingent of Republican stalwarts who recently endorsed front-runner Kenny Guinn over Russo and another high-profile candidate, Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren.

There's an unwritten rule in politics that party leaders should remain neutral during the primary.

Russo, a Hollywood producer who moved to Nevada in 1996, denied being behind the move to dump Mason.

But he said the two resolutions demonstrate the anger party regulars have toward the establishment.

"The rank-and-file people are feeling that the power of the machine is too strong," he said.

Clark County GOP Chairman Milton Schwartz, however, was hardly impressed with his group's resolution, calling it "meaningless."

The county party, he said, has no authority over the state organization.

Schwartz opposed the resignation call, but he also made it clear that he believes Mason should not have endorsed anyone in the primary.

Mason, you'll recall, incurred the wrath of the Russoites last month, when he struck a deal to call off the paycheck protection initiative against organized labor.

He could not be reached for comment.

But one of his confidantes, Chuck Muth of the Nevada Republican Liberty Caucus, was quick to lash out at the Russo campaign on Wednesday.

Muth, a former Clark County central committee chairman and state party officer, issued an e-mail statement calling the Russo supporters "zealots" who are turning the county party into a "laughing stock."

" ... I am deeply saddened by the disgrace and shame a few loony tunes have brought to the organization," Muth wrote. "I'm just glad I'm no longer a member."

This month, Muth, who served as the party's point man in the aborted paycheck protection initiative, endorsed Guinn even though the Las Vegas businessman opposed the initiative.

Guinn, meanwhile, said he doesn't support the call to oust Mason.

"They can argue over whatever they want to at the central committee," Guinn said from Reno on the campaign trail. "I'm working statewide and carrying out my grassroots program. And it's doing very very well."

Guinn's campaign manager, Pete Ernaut, said the latest GOP infighting shows the difference between his candidate and Russo.

"Kenny's campaign is about consensus building, and Russo's campaign is about bomb throwing," Ernaut said. "We've been down this road before with this guy. Most of his actions are pretty outrageous."

Ernaut said he can understand why Russo would be angry about Guinn's party endorsements.

"But (Russo's) actions clearly define why so many people wanted to come out and support Kenny," Ernaut added. "Russo is a loose cannon. He's not bolted to the deck."

Aren't you glad it's an election year?

If you listen to Chuck Muth, the congressional campaign of Don Chairez isn't going anywhere.

Muth and his political action group this week endorsed Esther Quisenberry over Chairez in the crowded Republican race to succeed Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev.

Chairez, a former district judge, is regarded as the front-runner who was pushed into the race by the political power brokers.

But according to Muth, who's in the trenches every day, the Chairez campaign so far has been "rather disappointing."

Muth said Quisenberry has been working her tail off, while Chairez seems to be looking to "phone this one in."

Chairez, however, said his campaign is on track.

Last week, he said, Las Vegas Sands Inc. Chairman Sheldon Adelson hosted a fund-raiser for him that took in $114,000.

As for Muth, Chairez said the unbashful party activist has never been in his corner.

"I don't consider him a serious voice of level-headed Republicans," Chairez said.

The Republican emerging from the primary is expected to face well-funded Democrat Shelley Berkley.

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