Goodman refuses to take sides

Mayor Goodman is spreading his endorsement largesse once again, backing both candidates in the Ward 5 City Council race.

Ricki Barlow and Stacie Truesdell are each embracing the city leader’s pseudo-endorsement, using his picture and kind words on campaign mailers.

Early on, Barlow’s campaign came out with a picture of the candidate and Hizzoner, accompanied by a glowing quote.

"He’s one of the most honest and hard working people at City Hall," Goodman says. The picture shows Goodman and Barlow shaking hands in the mayor’s 10th floor office at City Hall.

Truesdell’s campaign countered with its own mailer, featuring a candid shot of the candidate and Goodman sharing a laugh in the same City Hall office.

"I’ve known Stacie since she was a little girl, and I’ve always known her to be beyond reproach," Goodman says.

Goodman, who supported three candidates in April’s Ward 1 council race and three candidates in the Ward 5 primary, laughed when asked about being an easy politician with open arms.

He described his policy as: "To have my picture taken with every single candidate."

He’s not quite sure why the candidates use his endorsements.

"It sort of neutralizes the situation. I think it’s worth nothing to be honest with you," he said.

Barlow said he used Goodman’s support because when he announced his candidacy, the mayor offered to help.

"He told me to let him know what he could do for me," Barlow said.

Gary Gray, Truesdell’s campaign consultant, said part of the campaign strategy is "canceling out something" that your opponent is using.

The impact of Goodman’s endorsement is widely debated in political circles. He won his third and final term in April with 84 percent of the vote. But he backed Dario Herrera in his failed bid for Congress in 2002, and his endorsement last year of gubernatorial candidate Dina Titus hardly registered.

Gray said that the central question in any campaign is about the candidates and their positions.

"Then again, everybody would like to have an endorsement," he said. "It’s easier to win a race with friends than without them."

Former Councilman Lawrence Weekly, now a Clark County commissioner, has taken a decidedly non-Oscarlike approach. Though Barlow was a top Weekly aide for the past seven years, Weekly has not endorsed either candidate to fill the seat he left behind.

So did Barlow or Truesdell get a better sorta endorsement?

Goodman has to share space in Truesdell’s mailer with a Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial, leading to an obvious recitation about politics and strange bedfellows.

The quote in Barlow’s mailer is longer. The picture is bigger.

But, Truesdell pointed out, "My picture isn’t posed."

Jim Ferrence, Barlow’s campaign consultant, noted Goodman’s index finger extended vaguely in the direction of Truesdell in her mail piece.

He referred to it as the "pull my finger photo."

Ferrence, who also manages Goodman’s political campaigns, could never expect the mayor to be true to just one candidate.

"He has never said no to a photo or a free drink," Ferrence said.