Columnist Jeff German: Republicans may be writing off House seat to Berkley

DISTRICT JUDGE DON Chairez may be the favorite in the Republican Party's bid to hold onto John Ensign's House seat.

But it's starting to look as though he won't be getting much support from House Republican leaders.

The House leaders apparently have given up hope of defeating Regent Shelley Berkley, the Democratic front-runner in the race.

Monday's issue of the Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call, reports that Ensign's seat is one of three now held by Republicans that House leaders are writing off this campaign season.

The 1st Congressional District has 37,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans.

And Berkley, by far, has raised the most money out of all the candidates in both parties. She already has nearly $500,000 in her campaign coffers and is in Washington this week collecting more.

Her campaign is expected to switch into high gear in a couple of weeks when Richard Urey, Gov. Bob Miller's press secretary, joins her political team.

Urey, who won't comment, reportedly will serve as Berkley's campaign spokesman.

Chairez, meanwhile, may be vulnerable in the crowded GOP primary.

For starters, he'll have to give up his seat on the bench, most likely to a Democrat who would be appointed by the governor.

The judge's history of party-switching also likely will hurt him in the primary.

Berkley's campaign manager, Gary Gray, told Roll Call that Chairez has switched from Democrat to Republican four times.

It doesn't exactly instill confidence in his ability to serve as a GOP standard bearer in a race against a formidable Democrat.

Former City Councilman Steve Miller may have hit upon something in his latest crusade.

Miller filed a complaint last week with the Nevada Ethics Commission against the panel's legal adviser, Deputy Attorney General Louis Ling.

Most regard Ling as a straight shooter.

But Miller contends Ling has a conflict of interest handling Ethics Commission matters involving Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones.

Ling, you see, works for Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, a friend and political ally of the mayor's. Jones headed Del Papa's exploratory committee for governor until the attorney general took herself out of the Democratic primary and opted to run for re-election.

To Miller, that looks like "obvious cronyism" between Jones and Del Papa and reason to name an independent counsel to handle any current and future ethics matters involving the mayor.

His argument actually makes sense.

Del Papa should remember the ex-city councilman can be a real pest when he thinks he's right, especially in an election year.

The Culinary Union is taking its fight with Las Vegas Sands Inc. Chairman Sheldon Adelson to the Internet.

It has established a website (www.venetiangamble.com) to reach out to convention and meeting planners across the country.

The goal is to hurt Adelson's $2 billion Venetian hotel-casino project.

And it's likely to escalate the high-powered battle even more.

The website warns prospective conventioneers that the Venetian intends to have the most expensive rooms on the Strip.

Then it attempts to steer convention business to the other Strip resorts. Ouch!

Sunday's GOP turnout for House Speaker Newt Gingrich was extremely light, almost to the point of embarrassing.

Republicans have their gaffe-proned finance director, George Harris, to thank for the let-down.

Harris, said to be out of a job soon, had boasted beforehand that 600-800 people would be on hand. Instead, only about 200 turned out.

His pending departure can't come too soon for many Republicans.

No matter how it tries, the Republican Party can't shake its stuffy image.

The GOP currently is embroiled in a silly brouhaha over an innovative campaign fund-raiser for Assemblywoman Sandy Tiffany, R-Henderson.

Tiffany's friends are putting on a high-fashion lingerie party for her next Tuesday at Ruth's Chris Steak House on South Paradise Road.

Responses to the invitation are said to be flowing in amid the controversy.

But some Republican stiffs are offended by a brochure accompanying the invitation that features leggy models in tight body suits.

They've whipped some members of the media into a frenzy about it.

Lighten up, friends. Life is too short to be so stuffy.

Your lingerie bash is destined for success, Sandy. Next time, please put me on your mailing list.

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