Carolyn Goodman employs Politics 101 tactics on Day One

The microphone moment was subtle. After she was sworn in by her husband, he continued to hang on to the microphone. So she took it from him, saying, “I need the microphone.”

The transfer of political power was complete. While because of the force of his personality he’ll never be out of the limelight, Citizen Oscar Goodman is no longer the final decision-maker, she is —- at least publicly.

The mop was the attention-grabber. After she was sworn in, after the family kisses and photo ops, she turned to Councilman Steve Ross, a one-time rival for the mayoral job. In less harmonious days, he had tweeted, “Oscar is leaving a big mess to clean up.”

The new mayor handed the mop to Ross, quipping, “I was asked to clean up behind the mayor. I want to give it (the mop) to the gentleman who said for me to clean up.”

Her first council meeting ran more than five hours, with a break for lunch, and while she stumbled here and there, she followed the agenda and the written script and was polite and attentive to everyone.

Later in the meeting, behind-the-scenes dissent became glaringly obvious. When the time came for appointments, the first 4-3 votes of the day sent a clear message that all was not harmonious among the seven.

The new mayor appointed herself and Ross to plum positions on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, where members are invited to attend countless special events and enjoy luxury trips in the name of promoting Las Vegas.

Councilman Ricki Barlow had wanted the LVCVA appointment, but during the campaign, he had done a robocall in support of the mayor’s rival, Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani. He was bypassed in favor of Ross, who evolved from rival to enthusiastic supporter of the mayor.

Meanwhile, the job of mayor pro tem, a job usually based on seniority, went to Councilman Stravos Anthony, the newest member of the council with two years’ experience. Councilman Steve Wolfson, the most senior member of the council with seven years, had sought the mayor pro tem job.

The mayor rewarded Ross and Anthony, while snubbing Wolfson and Barlow.

Wolfson, Barlow and Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian voted as a block against the appointments to the LVCVA and mayor pro tem, but they were on the losing side of two 4-3 votes.

Tarkanian, who hadn’t sought these positions, said she had committed to support Wolfson for mayor pro tem based on his seniority and Barlow for LVCVA because of his keen interest in economic development.

While it’s obvious that Barlow’s support of her opponent motivated the new mayor to reject his bid for LVCVA, in favor of Ross, who is facing a recall effort, it’s less clear what Wolfson did.

Wolfson supported her candidacy the minute she asked, he never voted against the old mayor’s pet project, a new city hall, as Anthony had, and he consistently supported Oscar Goodman.

Carolyn Goodman didn’t return a call Friday, but there is already speculation that perhaps she didn’t want Wolfson as mayor pro tem fearing he might be a political rival for mayor in four years, if not for her (she’ll be 76) then perhaps for a Goodman-in-waiting.

On Day One, it was obvious there is trouble in city hall’s paradise.

Political patronage is all about rewarding your friends and bypassing your enemies, or those you perceive as your enemies. Carolyn Goodman seems to already know how that game is played.

Jane Ann Morrison’s column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Email her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call her at (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/Morrison