MUTH’S TRUTHS

Some folks who read yesterday’s item about Gov. Jim Gibbons appointing Assemblywoman Francis Allen to the newly-formed SAGE Commission thought it was real. No, it was pure satire, although one colleague who serves with Allen read the report and wrote that she’s a “real sharp” legislator who always “gets right to the point.”

Unfortunately, what’s NOT a joke is that “Slasher” Allen is proclaiming her innocence - despite police having in their possession the bloody steak knife and a first-person account by her husband - and going about her political business as if nothing ever happened. This is what happens when people run for office for all the wrong reasons; because they just want to “be” somebody. It becomes their entire reason for living.

Since Allen apparently won’t withdraw from her re-election campaign gracefully, the voters of her district are going to be subjected to quite a bit of “negative” campaigning - understandably so - over the next few months. Indeed, if Allen refuses to withdraw from the race, there’s a very good chance the Democrats could pick up this seat despite the GOP registration advantage - that is, if Allen prevails in the multi-candidate primary.

She certainly won’t relish this duty, but it may be time for Minority Leader Heidi Gansert to exercise a little adult supervision and ask Allen, for the good of the party, to step aside. The Assembly caucus has done a good job of recruiting some quality candidates in competitive districts this year and could actually pick up some seats in November. It’d be a shame to lose the momentum by losing Allen’s seat.

However, Madame Leader, you might want to have that conversation over the phone rather than in Ms. Allen’s kitchen…if you know what I mean, and I think you do.

Posted on May 23rd, 2008 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada