Quick and Dirty: A notebook of news and politics

Breaking down the hot campaigns

Filing for the fall election is over, and the Review-Journal dutifully published a complete list of the candidates in Saturday's paper. Ominously, the list filled a page. But to assuage any rising anxiety about trying to keep track of who's who, here's a rundown on what are shaping up as the year's key races:

• 3rd Congressional District: In the only federal race of note, GOP Rep. Jon Porter faces a significant challenge from Democrat Tom Gallagher.

• Clark County Commission, District B: Democratic incumbent Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, indicted in the G-Sting corruption probe, faces a tough primary against Tom Collins, Vonne Chowning, John Bonaventura and John Stephens. If she somehow survives that face-off, she likely will face Republican Shari Buck in the general election.

• Clark County Commission, District D: Democratic incumbent Yvonne Atkinson Gates faces a primary challenge from longtime state Sen. Joe Neal. Gates has lots more money, but Neal is a popular figure who could give her some trouble.

• Clark County Commission, District F: Recent appointee Lynette Boggs-McDonald faces a stiff challenge from Tim Cory in the Republican primary. If she passes that test, she will face Democratic Assemblyman David Goldwater. This could be close.

• State Senate, District 6: The Republican primary will be where the action is as veteran Sen. Ray Rawson faces a challenge from fiscal conservative populist Assemblyman Bob Beers.

• State Senate, District 11: Democratic incumbent Mike Schneider may have a tough time against Republican challenger Danny Tarkanian, well-known son of the legendary UNLV basketball coach.

• State Assembly, District 13: Republican incumbent Chad Christensen's errant campaign spending habits give promising Democratic challenger Justin Jones a legitimate chance in this heavily GOP district.

• State Assembly, District 28: This strong Latino district may finally get actual Latino representation, with Democrat Mo Denis being the early favorite.

• Nevada Supreme Court, Seat E: This race is something of a crapshoot, with Republican Party activist John Mason, local judges Ron Parraguirre and Doug Smith and former state senator and progressive activist Lori Lipman Brown competing.--GS

...and the not-so-hot campaigns

What would democracy be without fringe candidates? Er, a lot more efficient and less lame, actually. But a lot less fun, too. That said, here are a few of the quirkier candidates who've filed to run this season.

• In the race for Harry Reid's U.S. Senate seat, Natural Law candidate Gary Marinch has thrown his natural, lawful hat into the ring. The Natural Law Party supports things such as a universal, 10 percent flat tax, decriminalizing some drugs and preventing crime through investment in social programs.

Marinch joins a crowded field--crowded with Republicans, that is. Besides Richard Ziser, Republicans Carlo Poliak and Kenneth Wegner are vying for Reid's seat.

• Republican Assemblyman Lynn Hettrick--who made a name for himself as one of the "Mean 15" during 2003's Legislature bloodbath--has drawn a challenger, independent Randy Green. The Douglas High School economics and government teacher has said he's sick and tired of both parties, thus his independent status.

• In a bid for the 3rd Congressional District, Democrat Rick DeVoe will run in the primary against Tom Gallagher. DeVoe, a carpenter and union dude, is like Ralph Nader with a beer gut, sporting uncompromisingly progressive views and a commitment to limiting monetary contributions to his campaign to one dollar.

• Janine Hansen will run as an Independent American against Rep. Jim Gibbons. According to a press release, she'll run on a platform of opposing the PATRIOT Act, curtailing illegal immigration and calling for an end to the war in Iraq.--AK

Bronson brings cool infusion to downtown

When the Lon Bronson All-Stars announced they were ending their 14-year run at the Riviera hotel-casino, many groaned that it was the end of an era. Seeking to fatten the bottom line, the Riv had decided to rent out the lounge instead of going through all the trouble to pay an act and hopefully make some money off drinks and gaming.

But talk about bouncing back. The Lon Bronson All-Stars recently resurfaced at the Golden Nugget, playing its inaugural show Saturday night. Initial diagnosis: The transplant is a success. Bronson's brass fits nicely with the Golden Nugget, now owned by Internet cash-in poster boys, Tim Poster and Tom Breitling. Saturday's midnight show saw Bronson and crew up to their old antics, performing splashy, funked-up horn classics, while the two new "security guards"-- raven-bobbed femme-bots in tangerine body suits--dragged guests on stage to perform. Among them: local lounge singer Jimmy Hopper and anti-magician Penn Jillette, who brought his own band to perform his own blues growler, "Clothes of the Dead" and John Cale's "Fear Is a Man's Best Friend." The drink service was off, but overall, the marriage of Golden Nugget and Bronson brass looks promising--and it's another fine infusion of cool to downtown.--AK

Gays and straights protest hate group

Last week's protest of The Laramie Project by the outrageously anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church was heartening to many in the gay community--because so many straight people showed up. Indeed, in a somewhat rare show of gay/straight solidarity, a veritable rainbow of people appeared to protest the cadre of virulently homophobic protesters from Topeka, Kan. Forget the cliche about apathetic youth. Many of those at the rally were young and straight.

"My best friend is a lesbian and she has to take this kind of bullshit all the time," said 19-year-old Alex Budris, a 2003 Las Vegas Academy graduate. He and friend Natalie Higgins showed up early to the 6:30 a.m. rally, and had posterboards spread over the trunk of their car, trying to think up slogans. "This guy [Rev. Fred] Phelps is a joke."

"This whole thing is just sick," Higgins agreed. "Everyone should be equal. Gays should have had the right to marry a long time ago." With a marker, Budris settled on writing "Go Home Nazis" on his placard while Higgins was still stumped. Budris, gothed up in black jeans and T-shirt, warned her to not be too explicit on her posterboard. "Watch it," he said. She finally settled on, "Jesus--He loves gays too."

"I wanted to put, 'Jesus--The original bondage queen,'" she said.--AK

GOP website misses mark on Kerry bashing

When John Kerry came here Sunday, those on the e-mail list for Dick Cheney's election campaign received e-mails inviting them to check out a website tracking Kerry's travels. If you go to the Bush-Cheney site and click on Nevada, you get "The Nevada Facts." It begins, "John Kerry's policies would hurt New Mexico." Then it picks up with a quote from one of Bush's spin doctors about how Kerry's plans would ruin the pro-growth policies "that helped create over 1.1 million jobs since last August," although it doesn't mention that the jobs have been created overseas. Anyway, the more interesting points are the reference to New Mexico and the criticisms of Kerry. One is that he voted to tax Nevada's mining industry, which often wins support from everyone except the mining industry. Another is that he opposed spending $300 million to preserve Lake Tahoe, when in fact it was Bush's White House that rolled back environmental regulations that would have helped that national jewel. Maybe the Bush-Cheney campaign thinks the lake is in New Mexico.--MG

Will Andy Kaufman rise from dead?

Just because popular opinion has it that he's been taking a dirt nap for the last two decades doesn't mean Andy Kaufman can't still pack a house. Kaufman eschewed the label "comedian" and was more interested in a genuine reaction to his performance, regardless of whether that reaction was good or bad. To that end, he created the alter ego of Tony Clifton, the world's most obnoxious Vegas lounge singer. The thing is, Tony's still kicking around, getting into trouble on stage with R.E.M. and being kicked out of movie studios and hotels. He has a website, he's giving interviews and has a high-profile gig at the House of Blues in L.A. There is no word on whether Tony will return to Las Vegas to perform in his old stomping grounds.

Because Kaufman was the ultimate prankster, even his friends had trouble believing it when he died. He said that if he were faking his death, he'd return 20 years to the day, which is this Sunday. Bob Zmuda, Kaufman's best friend, co-conspirator and the other guy who portrayed Tony, has put together a show anticipating the second coming of Andy. Since Zmuda also puts together "Comic Relief," the show featuring Rodney Dangerfield, Caroline Rhea, Andy Dick and talk radio goofball Phil Hendrie, among others, it should be well worth the $50 to $250. Of course, Tony Clifton is headlining.

If Zmuda and Clifton appear on stage, we won't be surprised. If they're joined by Jim Carrey, who portrayed both Andy and Tony in Man on the Moon, we'll be impressed. If Kaufman joins them, well, we suspect everyone on the stage and in the theater will, to use Tony's vernacular, shit their pants.--AT