Creatures and candidates focus of meeting

By Joe Schoenmann

Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 | 2:01 a.m.

A Sun story last week about the three finalists for the job of Clark County district attorney prompted some citizens and county officials to air their support for one candidate in particular: Drew Christensen.

So what did they have to say?

Christensen, director of the county’s Office of Appointed Counsel, is a good lawyer, callers said, and became a better one by mistakes made when he was a public defender for Robert Hays.

Hays spent 14 years in prison for a crime he never committed. When he was freed in 2007, a federal judge blasted all sectors of Nevada’s judicial system and singled out Christensen, saying the young lawyer’s ineffective defense likely resulted from his inexperience. That experience, sources say, strengthened Christensen, making him more careful and thoughtful, and helping him better understand the legal system.

“He’s better at his job because of it,” one lawyer said. “(Commissioners) should give him a fair chance.”

The three candidates to replace David Roger — Christensen, Las Vegas Councilman Steve Wolfson and former Democratic Party Chief John Hunt — will make short pitches Tuesday to commissioners, who are expected to make their selection two weeks later.

At City Hall, sources say if Wolfson gets the appointment, Richard Truesdell, longtime member of the city Planning Commission, is the favorite to be appointed to the City Council to replace Wolfson.

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Love them or hate them, pigeons will be another topics at Tuesday’s meeting.

You mean commissioners will be discussing scam artists, who take advantage of the “pigeons” they find here?

No. I mean real pigeons — the kind with wings. Commissioners are expected to vote on a proposal that would amend county code to make it illegal to feed pigeons. It was postponed two weeks ago due to questions about the wide reach of the amendment — commissioners don’t want county snoops poking into people’s backyards.

What changes were made in the proposal?

The new version clarifies that the feeding must be intentional. It also states that after first getting a written notice, it would be unlawful — defined as a public nuisance — to intentionally provide food that results in the gathering of 10 or more pigeons.

Further, it would not apply to “property located in Community District 5,” which encompasses the towns outside the Las Vegas Valley — Indian Springs, Mount Charleston, Searchlight, Bunkerville, Glendale, Moapa Valley, Goodsprings, Nelson, Palm Gardens, Blue Diamond and Cal-Nev-Ari.

Commissioners will consider another animal-related ordinance, too, right?

Yep. Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani says panhandlers are bringing dogs and cats to the Strip, hoping to elicit sympathy — and more money — from passers-by. She sees it adding to the sense of chaos that many feel has overtaken the Strip. (A committee has been formed to address that, too.)

She is introducing a code amendment to ban animals from the Strip unless they are with residents who live on or adjacent to the Strip, are there for government reasons or are authorized by permit or some other governmental license.

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I’ve heard rumors that Commissioner Steve Sisolak is going to run for governor in two years. Is that true?

That’s a wild rumor, the commissioner says.

“Not a day goes by when someone doesn’t ask me to run for governor,” he said. “But if (Gov. Brian Sandoval) has a good session next year, there’s no way I’m going to run against him. If he has a terrible session, I’ll think about it. ... Right now, I’m focusing on my election this fall.”