Tarkanian Latest to Announce Bid Against Reid

Aug. 8, 2009, 6:19 p.m.

By Lauren W. Whittington
Roll Call Staff=09=09

Danny Tarkanian, the son of famed University of Nevada Las Vegas former
basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, on Monday will become the latest
Republican to formally launch a 2010 challenge to Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

`I am certainly not a Washington insider, but speaking just as a
Nevadan, I’m very concerned about the direction Senator Reid is taking
us in Washington,’ Tarkanian said in a statement. =80=9CWe simply
cannot continue to allow our federal government to borrow, spend and
bail out entire industries at the expense of future generations of
Nevadans.’

This is not Tarkanian’s first run for political office. In 2006, he
lost a bid for Nevada secretary of state. He ran for state Senate in
2004 and lost but then filed a civil defamation lawsuit against his
opponent. The suit was just recently settled when his opponent, state
Sen. Mike Schneider (D), agreed to pay Tarkanian $150,000 in damages.

Tarkanian is an attorney and Las Vegas real estate developer. His
mother, Lois, is a Las Vegas city councilwoman. Despite his famous
last name and political experience, he is not likely to be viewed as
the favorite candidate of state or national GOP leaders.

`I have no illusions about the difficult path ahead of me. But as I
learned in my recent court fight against a powerful state Senator,
sometimes you have to stand up for what is right. And sometimes when
you speak truth to power, you can win,’ Tarkanian said. `So without
reservation I am committing myself to this cause – to fight for what
is right for Nevadans. And I hope Republicans, Independents and
Democrats will join me.’

National Republicans have said that Reid is one of their top targets
in 2010, but they have yet to recruit a top-tier challenger for the
race. Tarkanian will become the seventh Republican to join the Senate
fray. State Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, banker John Chachas,
attorney Chuck Kozak and physician Robin Titus are already running,
but none is considered a major threat to Reid. Polls have shown the
Majority Leader is vulnerable if a credible challenger emerges.

Many Republicans are still hopeful that Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) will
decide to enter the race, although the Congressman has not made any
public moves toward doing so.