The campaigning never ends in Nevada. A little more than a month after Harry Reid triumphantly won re-election, all the yard signs and billboards have come down, only to be replaced by by those running in the Spring 2011 municipal elections. Katherine "Katie" Duncan held a press conference today to announce her candidacy for mayor, and its to her benefit that no press showed up.
The Aruba Hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard is just south of Charleston and sandwiched between Downtown Las Vegas' ubiquitous wedding chapels and cheap motels. Pictures inside the lobby remind you of the boom period of Old Vegas, when the mob ruled, money and liquor flowed freely, girls were fast and loose and Negroes had to find somewhere other than the strip to spend the night.
The building itself was colder than the 30 degree weather and unforgivably brisk wind outside. The press conference was held in the hotel's nightclub that was so dark that yes, I'll admit it, I ran into a support beam. I don't think this is the impression Duncan would want to leave our political press corps with: less than a dozen supporters in a dark room, huddling together for body warmth.
Duncan is not the only candidate in the race. Commissioner Larry Brown and Councilman Steve Ross also want to replace our garish and termed out mayor, Oscar Goodman. Unfortunately for Ross, some voters think of him as just another "union hack". He's claimed his union ties and city hall job don't pose a conflict of interest, but even bleeding-heart union-loving Liberals like me think his situation is shady.
Larry Brown has problems of his own. As commissioner he recently voted "NO" to approve changes to the Coroner's Inquest process. Changes that would give victim's families more rights and access during the inquest process and create the position of an ombudsperson. He voted no, even after telling Hispanic's In Politics meeting attendees he'd vote yes. I don't think a vote to protect police officers from the families of the victims they've killed will go over too well with Latino and Black voters.
Duncan would be the first first African American elected mayor of Las Vegas. Her name is synonymous with Ward 5 which covers most of the predominately Black and Latino historical West Las Vegas. She didn't mention her race, in her speech she stuck to palatable topics like homelessness, Veterans, neighborhood revitalization and "green projects" to create jobs.
Interestingly, she claims she wants to "continue the vision" of Mayor Goodman. The same mayor she's bumped heads with for wanting to build a wall through F and D Streets, essentially closing the the West Side off (Berlin style) from the rest of Las Vegas. And who could forget Mayor Goodman attacking President Obama going so far as to tell him he's not welcome in Las Vegas. While the "vision" may be about the revitalization of Downtown Las Vegas, part of the F and D Street project was part of Mayor Goodman's revitalization. But, Duncan's cloudy message and unspectacular press conference isn't the least of her worries: she's tapped Aloha Consulting to help her with her race.
Aloha Consulting is headed by Johnny Jackson, the blond haired, blue eyed former boxer who claims to be a native Hawaiian and representative of their government. Jackson says Duncan would be the 77th Aloha Consulting candidate to win. That is impressive for someone who says they've been in Las Vegas for only four years. However, his website only lists 23 candidates under "Nevada clients" and his list of "our candidates for the 2010 election" is different from the list of "Aloha Consulting candidates who won their races in 2010".
Jackson's biggest transgression: he is a birther.
In an email I've obtained Jackson claims President Obama wasn't born in Hawaii and his birth certificate is forged. Jackson's Positions on Issues PAC unsuccessfully tried to retire Senator Harry Reid. Members notoriously showed up to several Reid events in 2010 with his Aloha Consulting crew dressed in Sharron Angle t-shirts.
This is who Duncan thinks can help her win the Mayorship in an overwhelmingly Democratic city?
ETA: Thanks to Ms Duncan's correction below regarding Jan Jones. The mistake has been fixed. In response to Mr Jackson, it's not libel when you're repeating what someone says.
And I want to make it clear, I have nothing against Ms Duncan. I have admired her since I moved to Las Vegas in 2007 and I was excited to see she's be running for mayor. I was disappointed in her choice of campaign consultant and by how poorly put together her press conference was. She deserves better.
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Laura
laurakmmartin@gmail.com
First of all Laura, get your facts staright.
ReplyDelete1. I never claimed to be Native Hawaiian. I am from Hawaii. I represent the Reinstated Hawaiian Government, a Hawaiian Sovereignty Movement. Because of the illegal overthrow by a Democrat President of the United States.
2. I first came to Nevada in 1978. If you look at my website of total clients, you will see the number. Also, many of our wins were in Hawaii. Topped off by the biggest upset in Hawaii political history, when Alan Arakawa defeated Mayor Kimo Apana on Maui.
3. About being a birther, get your facts straight. That is the Position of the Reinstated Hawaiian Government & POIPAC.
4.Regarding Sen Reid, those Hawaiians who showed to support Angle are tired of Reid giving illegals a free ride, Hawaiians are American Citizens. We have waited 118 years for wrongs to be righted. In 1994 President Clinton gave us the Apology Bill, recognizing the illegal overthrow of Hawaii by the United States,
Maybe,before you throw out lies and misleading statements, you should talk to me.
But, then again, look at the people you support, liars, thieves, hustlers
I have a long email thread between you and another person and you make it clear enough that you are not someone worthy of talking to, rather, someone to steer clear of.
ReplyDeleteAnd you shouldn't say something at a press conference that's not true, even if no press shows up. And who the hell has a press conference the week all of the NV press corps is on vacation?
You prey on candidates who can't afford real consultants
I personally have no issues with Johnny Jackson, however, today's event was the proverbial "Hot Mess" and Katie deserved better.
ReplyDeleteI won't into personal issues, but, I will say that I am perplexed as to why Katie wouldn't announce her candidacy either in Ward 5 or on the steps of City Hall. I also have to question the use of The Aruba. I am a dedicated Downtown fan ( Katie was the first candidate for anything to answer my question about Circle Park correctly, open it and tie it into The Huntridge Theater.)but The Aruba is a dump. Nothing except a Meth buy should ever occur there. Was someone on a commission plan there?
Katie Duncan is a very smart lady and deserves a campaign worthy of her. Today was not a good sign. The best thing is that NO press was there so she still has time to right her ship and say Aloha to whatever Gods caused today's event to besmirch her reputation. Btw, I couldn't even see her in that basement (it was a basement wasn't it?). Shameful.
One more thing, I would not represent ANY organization that talks that birther BS.
Hi - I've heard it from several individuals that Johnny Jackson represents the government of Hawaii... does EVERYONE have it wrong? Or is Mr. Jackson saying one thing here, but then saying something else to people in order to make himself seem more important? These are perplexing questions.
ReplyDeleteMs. Duncan appears to have quite a graceful reputation in the community, I've asked several leaders and individuals about her and everything came back as positive. The ONE negative about her new campaign for mayor was the fact that she's being run by Aloha Consulting. I hope that Ms. Duncan wises up and decides to go with another management company, I'd hate for her to be hindered by the company that she keeps.
Thank you Ms. Martin for attending today's press conference. Mayor Jan Jones should not be forgotten. Our plan is to bring sustainable green jobs and to diversify our tourism market. It is important for us to work with people who may not share our values to get this important job done.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your time and look forward to meeting
you.
Katie
Wow, I can't believe all the negatives about me. Maybe, because I speak my mind. You can always research me.
ReplyDeleteI came back to Vegas because the only really qualified candidate out of all of them New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was running for President, oh yea, a Democrat. So, again before you make slanderous and possibly libelous statements to people, get your facts straight. And I am a disgruntled Democrat.
I took Jackson up on the challenge to get my facts straight before responding to this post. Interestingly enough, there is no record of any Jackson registered to vote within the entire state of Nevada with the birth date he lists on his Facebook profile. So I played around with the year; could be a typo, right? And I found a Johnny G-D Jackson listed as a Democrat with the same month and day of birth but different year.
ReplyDeleteReally? Johnny G-D Jackson?
Here's what the Independent World reported back in October 08: "Sharron Angle is a true conservative who believes in the constitution of the United States," is how Johnny Jackson, a Republican activist, put it. "She's the only person who'll do something about the Mexicans flooding in here. You English people should know about how that feels, with the problem you're having with them Muslims." (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nevadas-voters-lose-their-taste-for-tea-2098834.html)
That gives me the creeps.
Other records show that Jackson was a volunteer for the Obama campaign back in 2008. Jackson went from Yes We Can to Hell No We Won't in less than a year's time? That's a pretty big leap for a Democrat to make in such a short period of time, no matter how disgruntled.
Jackson is a dedicated foot soldier for the Republican Party. I’ve seen him at various functions promoting/supporting various Republican/Tea Party candidates. I give him kudos for that and for being an engaged participant in the process. But he gets poor marks for integrity and methodology.
Katie Duncan's contributions to the city are widely known to locals. But if Johnny Jackson is behind her, I hear alarm bells. Big ones. I won't vote for her if she continues to work with Jackson because I think it shows a significant lapse in judgment. I feel bad about that but I’ll bet I’m not the only one who feels that way. In fact, I'd bet the same is true for just about anyone not into tinfoil hats.