MUTH’S TRUTHS

It’s not all doom-and-gloom for Republicans in Nevada. Despite the number of GOP legislators who are killing the party on the tax issue this year, some very talented and experienced people are coming on the scene who could make a world of difference in the coming election cycle.

First and foremost is Sue Lowden, the new chairwoman for the Nevada Republican Party. Sue has the potential to do greater things here as party chief than any chairman has done since the Frank Fahrenkopf days back in the Reagan era. Here’s just a small example of what to expect…

In speaking with her yesterday, Sue mentioned that GOP presidential candidate John McCain was visiting in Elko this weekend and that she was writing him a $1,000 personal check. “Whoa!” I thought. “Supporting one GOP presidential candidate over the others is going to get you in a LOT of trouble as party chairwoman.” But then Sue explained that she would write a personal $1,000 check to ANY Republican presidential candidate who spent time campaigning in rural Nevada.

Now THAT’S leadership. That’s looking out for rural Republicans. And THAT’S putting your money where your mouth is.

In addition, one of the first things Sue did after her official election last Saturday was bring in the highly qualified, experienced and battle-tested Robert Uithoven, Jim Gibbons’ former campaign manager, to help the party with its heretofore abysmal communications, message and media relations problem.

Plus, she’s hosting a major fundraising event at former Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt’s restaurant in Las Vegas tomorrow night which is expected to rake in over twenty large. That should pull the party out of the financial hole it slid into under its former acting chairman.

Then there’s Hans Gullickson. Don’t know him well…but have met him twice. And the guy just exudes competence. He’s a former executive director for the Iowa Republican Party and he’s been hired to run the Nevada GOP’s presidential caucus now officially slated for next January 19th (thanks to many of you!). Seems to be a rock-solid pick for that job.

Also, as you folks know, I’ve been around the GOP party track a few times. And the liaison assigned to Nevada by the Republican National Committee (RNC) hasn’t always been the sharpest political tool in the shed. And those who were competent didn’t have any direct Nevada political experience to pull from. Not this campaign cycle. Our RNC field rep is Chris Carr, a former Nevada GOP executive director whose political skills, honed in Louisiana bayou country, impress just about everyone who works with him.

Speaking of the RNC and Louisiana: The new RNC director for state and local party development, as well as minority outreach, is a guy named Shannon Reeves. Shannon originally hails from Louisiana, but has been most politically active over the last decade in California. He recently served as vice chairman of the California GOP and has visited Nevada frequently for various political events, including guest appearances here as a Lincoln Day speaker.

I’ve known Shannon for years, and he’s one of the most dynamic - or as Joe Biden might say, “articulate” - messengers of the limited-government philosophy you’ll find anywhere. Expect to see more of Shannon in Nevada in the coming campaign cycle. You’re gonna love this guy.

And completing the Louisiana Connection, keep an eye out for Mac Abrams. Mac last worked for Louisiana Sen. David Vitter (R) before being hired as Rep. Dean Heller’s new chief-of-staff. In the few meetings and conversations I’ve had with Mac, I’ve come away with the impression that this is a guy who actually lives and breathes politics, as opposed to so many GOP operatives whose understanding of the game is limited to what they’ve read in a manual or heard on TV. I realize Mac’s primary mission is to run the congressional show in Washington, but to whatever extent his duties involve him in the political scene back here in Nevada’s 2nd congressional district, it will be enormously positive.

Thanks to a dreadful absence of party leadership up until last weekend, Nevada Republicans are WAY behind Nevada Democrats for the 2008 campaign cycle. And the continued absence of GOP leadership in the state Assembly remains the party’s weakest link and an albatross around the party’s neck. But with the addition of the individuals listed above in key positions, Republicans could very well catch up pretty fast. Keep your fingers crossed.

Posted on April 28th, 2007 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada