Backstory: Neal, going and coming

By Michael Green

The last time the state Senate didn't include Joe Neal, Clark County's population was about 150,000--less than 10 percent of its current size.

Not that Neal created this growth. But it's a mark of how long he has been around--and how much has changed.

In 1972, Neal won his first race for a so-called "black" Senate seat. Three-term Assemblyman Woodrow Wilson lost to Neal in the general election. Wilson had lived in West Las Vegas longer and recently had been instrumental in passing Nevada's first fair housing law. But the district was predominantly Democratic.

Since then, Neal has survived a few scares, thanks to decidedly different divisions in his district and in Nevada generally--both of which could play a role in this election. Dave Phillips, the son of civil and welfare rights activist Ruby Duncan, challenged Neal in 1984, and the campaign turned partly on the personal and political infighting that inevitably occupies a small community--as West Las Vegas was and in some ways still is. Anyone in politics as long as Neal is bound to make enemies.

In 2000, Neal barely staved off Uri Clinton, an African-American of a different generation--he was born about the time Neal first won his state Senate seat--and ideology. Clinton ran with backing from the gaming industry, which is as likely to endorse Neal as George W. Bush is to honor Richard Clarke for revealing more of his administration's lies about how it dealt with terrorism.

This year, Neal faced a three-way race after the most recent redistricting. Cedric Crear, a former executive with Station Casinos, planned to run. Theresa Malone, a state Board of Education member, long ago went to work on grass-roots campaigning.

Neal's decision not to run became known when Linda Howard announced her plans to run for his seat. Howard is a university regent, which isn't a recommendation. Recently, she stood with the board minority that fought the seven regents and their tame chancellor as they railroaded CCSN President Ron Remington. But Howard has thrown her weight around CCSN trying to help a political ally obtain a position for which he is unqualified. She also claimed to be defending the rights of minorities when she ordered private records at UNLV, including those of a student who criticized her and another person who obtained a job for which Howard had applied.

That person is Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates. Interestingly, Neal is making noises about challenging Atkinson Gates for re-election. You might think this proves it's a small world. Actually, it's even smaller than that.

Howard's first bid for office in 1994 was for regent--against Phillips, who defeated her. Many considered her Neal's candidate--or his revenge against Phillips for challenging him a decade before. In 2000, Howard won their rematch and a six-year term.

Neal may have wanted to give her the chance to announce for his seat before anyone else with ties to West Las Vegas could do so. Whether he did Howard any favors remains to be seen. Neal's long tenure gave him a built-in buffer against opposition within his district and from gaming. His isolation as a liberal, an African-American and a willing negotiator on the nuclear waste dump limited his ability to be more than a fly--or a gadfly--in the gaming industry's profitable ointment.

If Howard is seen as Neal's candidate, she will pick up a lot of votes from his supporters, but others may see a chance to fire a shot across Neal's bow. Whatever the limits of Neal's influence, "state senator" inspires more fear than "regent." Attacking her might prove easier--and sweeter for the vengeful--than attacking him.

Howard also may run into a gaming industry buzzsaw. Casino executives long have wanted to rid themselves of Neal. Besides, now they have a new group of legislators they hope to behead--those who opposed Gov. Kenny Guinn's tax plan last year. But if Howard wants to follow in Neal's footsteps in demanding higher gaming taxes or taking liberal stands, she probably would be a weaker candidate, especially if gaming decides to throw around its considerable weight.

Atkinson Gates also figures into the equation. Her district overlaps with Neal's and long has included areas with a significant African-American population--West Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, where her family has a history. But it also includes more elite, almost entirely white areas such as Rancho Circle. Despite being more liberal than some of her neighbors, Atkinson Gates has done well in those areas.

Atkinson Gates also faced ethics problems over the awarding of airport concessions and accusations of exploiting her elected position for business purposes. But whatever she did or didn't do won't be the biggest ethics issue involving the County Commission in this election. And if Neal becomes a threat, she would take great pleasure in pointing out that his softer position on nuclear waste might have something to do with working for many years for a Nevada Test Site contractor.

Neal is unlikely to unseat Atkinson Gates, and some will resent his support for Howard. Usually, those leaving an office after a long career inspire tributes. Neal leaves in a contrary way, possibly tilting at windmills. Somehow, that seems fitting.