Las Vegas Weekly

November 25, 2009 · 5:05 PM

Oscar Goodman sounds like a man not running for governor

By John Katsilometes

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Golden Nugget Owner Tillman Fertitta with guests at the Golden Nugget Rush Tower Grand Opening on Nov. 23, 2009.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Last night during the opening party for Rush Tower at Golden Nugget, I asked Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman to set betting odds on his running for governor.

What’s the number, minus-250? Minus-500?

Neither. Instead, Goodman’s answer embraced the word “grandkids.”

The resulting deduction is that Goodman is strongly leaning against running for governor, even as various polls (including his own) indicate he’d run strong against Democrat Rory Reid and any Republican nominee.

“Oh, I’m not going to say. All I can say is, I love Las Vegas,” said Goodman, gripping his omnipresent Bombay Sapphire beverage/prop while flanked by members of Luxor’s Fantasy adult review. “I love my family, and it’s a personal decision at this point. I think I could do a wonderful job for the state in these very challenging times, but I may become selfish for the first time in a long time in my life and stay here with my wife and kids and grandkids.”

Make it plus-500 odds, at this point, against him running. My sense during this whole process is Goodman, in his final term as mayor, loves the idea of running statewide and competing for votes in such locales as Elko, Fallon and my favorite Nevada township that is not Las Vegas, Caliente. But the concept of uprooting from Las Vegas, Goodman's home for 46 years, and moving to Carson City is hardly appealing to the 70-year-old mayor. Watching Goodman swill the martini and hobnob with the mob at Golden Nugget, I thought of the saying, “What, and leave all this?”

More from the Rush show

Goodman lavished praise on the new $150 million, 500-room tower. “This is about as special a night as I’ve experienced as mayor, as far as downtown entertainment venues are concerned. Of course, I love the fact that we have the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute and Performing Arts Center and all of the other developments, but this reminds me a lot of the atmosphere of when (Steve) Wynn opened up the Golden Nugget many, many years ago (1977, it was, when Wynn opened the first tower). It was a statement that downtown was able to compete with the Strip, and to be honest with you -- and I mean this seriously -- this is as nice a place as there is in the entire valley. It’s wonderful.” … The guest rooms in the 25-story, 500-room tower are reportedly 20 percent larger than Golden Nugget’s regular standard rooms, which is good, because the guests seem 20 percent larger these days, too. … Rooms range from 439 square feet to suites measuring 1,326 square feet, and you have to dig the aquarium (as much as a person can actually dig an aquarium) at Chart House restaurant. … A standard Rush Tower room can be had, tonight, for $69, according to the Golden Nugget Web site. … David Marshall was there. Who is David Marshall? A guy who describes himself as a longtime Golden Nugget customer who first visited the hotel in 1960 and usually wears a suit of some remarkable design (Monday it was a lime green zoot suit) and a necklace that conveniently reads “David Marshall.” I noticed him, wearing a brown snakeskin suit, while tailing Goodman last New Year’s Eve, too. He should be the Official Fremont Street Greeter, or something. … City Councilman Gary Reese was in attendance. When I asked how his barbershop, Gary and Derrill’s Barber Shop on Bonanza Road and Eastern Avenue, is doing, he gave me the “so-so” wavering hand gesture. Reese has barbered there since 1963. I think he’ll run for mayor, and if he wins would no longer do the shave/haircut bit. … Posing for photos with Landry’s CEO (which makes him head of Golden Nugget, as Landry’s owns Golden Nugget) was Palms owner George Maloof and the eminent Laura Croft. Croft is a sidekick and roommate of Holly Madison, whom I met while reporting my Tolstoy-esque story about Madison in Las Vegas Weekly in June. Croft is great. Maloof seems to think so, too. The guy seems positively smitten in her presence. … Maloof said he thought the big party was actually tonight, and he and Croft could sort of sneak in a night early and check out the place, unnoticed. Not likely. … Angelica Bridges was to appear onstage with Fantasy cast members, Miss Nevada USA Julianna Erdesz and Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting. But she was late because her navigational system (in her vehicle) does not include any streets in Nevada. Weird. … Gordie Brown can really look like Robert De Niro, whenever he feels like it. … Former Channel 13 sports and news anchor Ron Futrell never misses a chance to chide his former station for letting him go this year over a traffic incident in which charges against him were dropped. Happy guy these days, that Ron. … A guy who owns a hotel but hardly acts like it: Mark Brandenburg of Golden Gate.

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