My Point of View
By Rolando Larraz
After last week’s edition of the Las Vegas Tribune, I wish to thank the grandmother who tells me that no one reads the Las Vegas Tribune for allowing me to prove her wrong.
Last week, after the newspaper was proud to endorse North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee for governor of the great state of Nevada, I had a few calls from both sides of the aisle; some asked me if it was not too early to endorse anyone; some asked me why I have to endorse anyone before knowing if any other candidate to my liking will announce his or her candidature for that position.
First of all, I believe that as the creator, the founder, the publisher, the editor-in-chief and the janitor of this humble publication, I have earned the right to endorse and/or support anyone I want to endorse or support, but I do not believe in endorsements because most of the endorsements come with strings attached.
For a while we supported some candidates, but as some others a little more intelligent that I once told me, there is little or no difference at all between supporting or endorsing a candidate, so we have gone back to the most popular word, endorse.
Either way, those who know me are aware that I do not participate in the endorsement process because I do not like to be accused of taking sides. I do not believe that a news organization should belong to any group, organization or political party in order to be able to report both truthfully and fairly.
I agree with the Las Vegas Tribune’s endorsement of last week because it would have been very unfair to me if they would have endorsed Sheriff Joe Lombardo because above all, I do not believe he is capable of governing the state of Nevada. (Fortunately, neither do they.)
The Las Vegas Tribune has been the victim of Joe Lombardo for all the years he has been the top law man in Clark County. We (the Las Vegas Tribune Newspaper) have been discriminated against by Sheriff Joe
Lombardo and his most close allies because Sheriff Lombardo does not know how to take criticism and in politics everyone should know how to take criticism — sometimes fair and sometimes not fair at all, but
that is part of the game that goes with the job and if the person does not have thick enough skin for criticism, they should find another profession because sore losers do not belong in the world of politics.
When attorney Bob Becket was a four-time District Attorney in Nye County, this newspaper used to attack him every week and he never refused any of our telephone calls. We even went to lunch several times (he paid) and after he retired, he was my co-host on Face The Tribune radio show.
Sheriff Lombardo has no reason to be angry, upset to the point of discriminating against the Las Vegas Tribune or me personally because we never lied about him and/or his department. It is my humble opinion
that Sheriff Lombardo is a useless public official and as long as we still have freedom of the press in this wonderful nation, I, as well as everyone else, am entitled to my opinion; and as long as he is a public figure he has to take criticism as a man and if he does not like our criticism he could have called me and told me where I was wrong.
Democrat Nevada Governor Mike O’Callaghan and I probably never looked at each other eye to eye, but when I wrote something he did not agree with, even if it was not about him, he used to call and tell me why I was wrong or where I was wrong.
There have been two Nevada Governors that I respect and admire, both Democrats — Richard Bryan and probably the most popular of them all, the late Mike O’Callaghan. O’Callaghan, unfortunately, is no longer with us but I had the pleasure to embrace Bryan at the birthday party for former Nevada U.S. Attorney General Malone Brown.
Never ever, up to recently, have I looked at the letters after the name; heck, I used to like the present Nevada Governor. We used to go to the same church and many times used to chat after Mass. I used to
look at the politicians and public officials for what they could do for the community, not for what they could do for me.
I never asked any one of them for a favor. I am lucky I do not get too many tickets, but if and when I ever get a ticket, I quietly just pay it.
The only public or elected official I ever asked for a favor was City Councilman Stavros Anthony, when my brother passed away; the Funeral Home told my family that it would take three weeks to release the body and I called Councilman Anthony and we had my brother’s body the next day and for that I will be grateful to Councilman Anthony for the rest of my life, even if he is not allowed to speak to me or associate with me by orders of a “grandmother” we both know. I will support and place political signs for Governor candidate John Lee all day long, in my office and at any other business I may own.
The only signs I have ever placed in any of my places are President Donald Trump (before the signs had the name of Pence on them), City Councilman Stavros Anthony, and Sheriff candidate Gordon Martines.
To me it is an honor to have the name of Governor candidate John Lee or Stavros Anthony — for whatever position they may run for — displayed in any of my places.
My name is Rolando Larraz, and as always, I approved this column.
* * * * *
Rolando Larraz is Editor in Chief of the Las Vegas Tribune. His column appears weekly in this newspaper. To contact Rolando Larraz, email him at: Rlarraz@lasvegastribune.com or at 702-272-4634.
Follow