Speaker Dini shuns Neal's candidacy for governor

CARSON CITY -- Assembly Speaker Joe Dini, D-Yerington, filed for a 17th term Monday saying he won't support North Las Vegas Sen. Joe Neal, the front-running Democrat for governor.

Dini, 69, said he has watched Neal work in the Senate and he "has not been particularly effective."

Dini said the state needs a leader going into the next century "who's got more of an open mind on business and industry."

Dini, the senior Democrat in the Legislature, said while he would not support any gubernatorial candidate, he added he "would like to be the loyal opposition to Kenny Guinn."

Guinn, the Republican front-runner to replace Gov. Bob Miller, is "easy to work with," Dini said, noting that they worked together when Guinn was superintendent of schools in Clark County.

Dini joins Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., and Miller, who said they would not back Neal because he supports bringing nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain. Dini, however, said that isn't the issue that turns him off against Neal.

"Joe's a Populist," Dini said, "but he has not said what he would do when elected."

Dini opposes both the "payroll protection" constitutional amendment to curtail union dues being used for politics and the proposed change to allow marijuana to be used in medical treatment.

Dini, who wants to return as speaker, said Democrats have a good chance of increasing their 25-17 majority by two seats in the 1998 election. He said Democrats can win the seat being vacated by Republican Jack Close in Las Vegas and Republican Pat Hickey's Reno district.

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