(Chuck Muth) – OK, here’s the latest on the upcoming Assembly Republican Caucus (ARC) leadership election on Friday…
I spoke with Assemblywoman Jill Dickman last night. She advises that she’s been flooded with emails encouraging her to run for the Minority Leader position.
She hasn’t made a final decision yet but shared some of the messages she’s received. Here are two examples (I’ve redacted the names to protect the innocent)…
- “Assemblywoman Dickman, I don’t pretend to know much about politics, but what I do know is that we have a state full of lazy, whiny Republicans… We are desperate for strong leadership in Nevada. And if Chuck Muth thinks you are the woman to lead the Republican Caucus, you are!! Please consider throwing your hat into the ring.”
- “A majority of our representatives in Carson City are compromised, inept or just plain dumb. That said, we need you! Jill, I know that it is difficult to sacrifice elements of our daily commitments to the affairs of home, family and community, but you have been making those sacrifices for many years. I appreciate your past, dedicated service and ask that you consider heading the Assembly Republican Caucus.
Right now, the leading candidate for the job is Assemblyman Greg Hafen out of Pahrump. And he probably has the votes to get elected…UNLESS Jill decides to challenge him.
If so, then all bets are off.
Some who initially signaled support for Hafen might well change their minds if Jill enters the race, especially since Hafen would kick Dickman and Southern Assistant Leader Danielle Gallant out of their leadership posts.
And while I hate playing “identity politics,” how’s it gonna look if he not only ousts a pair of solid conservatives from his leadership team, but two WOMEN?!!
Even if he appoints two other women to replace Dickman and Gallant, the replacements won’t be the proven movement conservatives that Dickman and Gallant are.
Indeed, I suspect that if Hafen gets elected and boots them, they’ll just go off on their own and re-start a separate conservative caucus within the caucus – like the Freedom Caucus in Congress.
Why go down that divisive road if it can be avoided with just a little compromise that will retain some of the status quo?
If choosing the path of eternal friction is an indication of Mr. Hafen’s judgment, it’s gonna be another brutally ugly session for Assembly Republicans under his reign.
And I’m going to start making my list, and checking it twice, to see who might be “primary bait” in 2026.
But wait. There’s more…
FLY IN THE ANOINTMENT
Team Hafen believes he’s got the eight votes needed to win on Friday. But not so fast.
There are 15 members of the caucus. So you would think the next leader would need eight votes and Team Hafen believes he has them.
Not necessarily so if Dickman launches a challenge. But even if he does, it might not actually be enough. Here’s why…
From what I’ve been told, the caucus bylaws require the winner to get 50-percent-plus-one.
Well, 50% of 15 is seven-and-a-half. “Plus one” means you need eight-and-a-half.
And since none of the members are munchkins, that means the winner needs NINE votes, not eight.
While Hafen might have eight, he probably doesn’t have nine if Jill runs for leader. And Jill probably wouldn’t have nine either. Mexican standoff.
So concessions will have to be made in a compromise that no one will be 100% happy with. Here’s my suggestion…
If Assemblyman Hafen really wants the job, and really wants to bring this fractured caucus somewhat together, and really wants to get me and other conservatives off his/their back, it’s very simple.
Announce that, if elected, Northern Assistant Leader Dickman and Southern Assistant Leader Danielle Gallant will remain on the leadership team. All he’d have to do is create the “Campaign Committee” position I mentioned yesterday and appoint Gallant to chair it.
Hafen can then appoint one of his loyalists as Southern Assistant Leader and another of his loyalists for the Whip position, which would give him a 3-2 majority on the leadership team if disagreements come up.
That would be a win-win for all concerned and the ONLY way to bring some kind of unity to this Lord of the Flies caucus.
I don’t know if Dickman and Gallant would go along with this, but it makes sense. Assemblyman Hafen should at least try to cut the deal.
I’m sure he’s already promised those slots to someone else, but circumstances have changed this week and a real leader needs to roll with the punches (and not count his chickens before they’re hatched).
Maybe a little encouragement from Muth’s Truths readers will help him make the right decision. Here’s the assemblyman’s contact information according to his website…
Email: Gregory@hafen4nevada.com
Phone: (775) 209-3006
This is an opportunity for the Assembly Republican Caucus to do something smart and right for a change. Let’s hope they don’t (again) blow it.
P.S. Assemblywoman Dickman has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Assemblyman Hafen has consistently refused to do so.
Don’t forget what happened in 2015 when over a dozen Republican non-Pledge signers voted for the largest tax hike in Nevada history!
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
In a totally unrelated and non-political issue, my friend and longtime GOP leader George Harris has a son who is competing for a $20,000 college scholarship for his line of “hot sauces.”
“Max M.” is one of six finalists in a vote that will determine the winner. Whoever gets the most votes…wins. There’s no electoral college!
So if you would take a quick second to click on this link and cast a ballot for Max – his video is on the top left – it would be greatly appreciated.
I know nobody likes George, and who can blame them? I don’t even like him and he’s one of my best friends! 😊
So don’t do it for George. Do it for Max. Go Max, GO!
Mr. Muth is president of Citizen Outreach, publisher of Nevada News & Views and blogs at MuthsTruths.com. His views are his own.
