We know that current Governor, Jim Gibbons, is on the political equivalent of life-support right now so that tends to get other candidates thinking about what the future might hold for them.  Someone giving that future a lot of thought is the self-proclaimed "happiest mayor in the world", Oscar Goodman.

According to the Review Journal (who, based on the following open), may not be in the mayor's corner:

Could Oscar Goodman be Nevada’s Jesse Ventura? (ouch!)

The larger-than-life Las Vegas mayor confirmed Thursday he is considering a run for governor as an independent candidate not affiliated with a political party.

Under term limits, Goodman’s third and final term as mayor ends in 2011. A Democrat, he has periodically floated the idea of running for governor or other higher office over the years, but the idea of an independent run is new.

Goodman recently talked about the possibility with Ventura, the former professional wrestler known as “The Body” who successfully ran as an independent for governor of Minnesota.

“It was a great conversation. He’s very cool,” Goodman said Thursday. Goodman reached Ventura, who left politics after one term, at his home in remote Baja, Mexico, where he spends most of his time surfing.

“He’s a very smart guy. We talked for about 45 minutes,” Goodman said. “We shared ideas, and I said I’d be talking to him again.”

By running as an independent, Goodman could position himself as a “total maverick,” appealing to voters who are disaffected with partisan politics.

“That’s the way I ran as mayor,” he said. “I do it my way. It’s always worked for me.”

A former mob lawyer, Goodman, 69, is known for a flamboyant style that he says helps promote Las Vegas as a destination. He has an endorsement contract with a brand of gin and routinely appears at public events with a scantily clad showgirl in full headdress on each arm, accompanied by an Elvis impersonator.

Goodman previously had said he would wait to decide whether to run for governor in 2010 until the 2009 legislative session ended. Now that it’s over, he said, “I’m considering all options.”

“It’s just in the rudimentary, talking stages at this time,” Goodman said of the potential run. “Basically, I’ve enjoyed the past eight years as an independent and a nonpartisan for all intents and purposes. When folks come up to see me, I don’t see a 'D’ or an 'R’ next to them, I see a constituent. It’s pretty nice doing business that way rather than the old political hack way of doing it.”

Goodman said he was a Republican when he first moved to Las Vegas in the 1960s.

Goodman switched parties to vote for former Gov. Richard Bryan in the Democratic primary, but said he has never strongly identified as a partisan.

The mayor’s position is a nonpartisan office. While candidates often get support from political parties, no affiliation appears on the ballot.

In talking to others who have run independent campaigns, Goodman said, he has learned that “it’s very, very difficult to lose a major party’s support.” The two major parties boost candidates by providing formidable organizational and financial resources.

Even Ventura didn’t run entirely without affiliation: He was the candidate of the Reform Party of Minnesota, which doesn’t have a Nevada counterpart.

But an independent run also would allow Goodman to avoid a potentially crowded Democratic primary field. Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, and Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid both are expected to mount strong campaigns for the nomination.

Getting on the ballot as an independent candidate is remarkably easy. For statewide office such as governor, it takes a petition with the signatures of 250 registered Nevada voters, to be submitted in early February prior to the March candidate filing period, Clark County Registrar Larry Lomax said.

Independent candidates must not themselves be registered with a political party, so Goodman would have to switch his registration from Democrat.

Goodman’s political consultant, Jim Ferrence, said the mayor would have strong appeal with the 20 percent of Nevada voters not registered with either major party, as well as with the many Democrats and Republicans who have tired of partisanship.

Political science professor David Damore of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said Goodman could be a good fit for the sort of outsider political figure embodied by Ventura or 1990s presidential candidate Ross Perot. But it’s unclear how well-known he is outside of Southern Nevada.

“He’s going to have to create an entire organization from scratch, and that’s no easy deal, particularly for someone who’s never run outside the city of Las Vegas,” Damore said.

In a general election with a Democrat, a Republican and Goodman, Goodman would be likely to take more votes away from the Democratic candidate, potentially helping the Republican nominee to victory, Damore said.

There’s no doubt Goodman’s presence in the race would be entertaining, he said. But given the situation the state is in, voters may be looking for a serious, substantive campaign rather than goofy antics.

“What’s he going to say, 'Happy Hour for everybody’?” Damore wondered.

As with all Goodman’s political feelers, it’s impossible to know how serious he is about this idea. But the mayor said he would have to make a decision soon, and Ferrence said it probably would be by the end of July.

“I have to have an answer very, very soon because everybody’s out there making announcements and collecting money, and I’m drinking martinis,” Goodman said.

Good news from FCLV buddy and Flamingo Club co-founder, Heidi Swank, that SB 354, the bill that we posted about here last week as being opposed to, has gone down to defeat.  The downside, this defeat does not mean that the Paul Revere Williams designed Guardin Angel church is less threatened.

From the Las Vegas Sun:

A bill to allow casino expansion in Las Vegas in a gaming district now blocked by the location of two Catholic churches died in the Senate on Monday.

The Senate, before adjourning the session, never took a vote on whether to concur with amendments of the Assembly on Senate Bill 354.

Current law states that casinos outside of the Las Vegas Boulevard gaming enterprise district may not expand if they are within 1,500 feet of a church.

To get around this restriction, the bill expanded the gaming corridor to include downtown Las Vegas and expands the zone along the Strip.

St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in downtown Las Vegas is within 1,500 feet of property purchased by the Golden Nugget for expansion. But the death of the bill dims the chances for Golden Nugget to expand.

Attorney Mark Fiorentino represents Marriott International, which has some 20 acres on the Strip, but it is blocked from expansion because a small portion of the property is within the Guardian Angel Cathedral on the Strip. It wanted that restriction removed.

And the Guardian Angel church’s location would restrict Steve Wynn from building a casino on the company’s 140-acre golf course next to Wynn Las Vegas. But Wynn doesn’t have any current plans for such expansion, said Fiorentino, who represents Wynn Las Vegas.

He said both Catholic churches have no objection. “It is supported by all labor, including the Culinary," he said.

He said officials talked to the Guardian Angel church and it had no objections “because part of their mission is to serve people who work and who visit the casinos.

The Guardian Angel is “completely surrounded by casinos,” he said.

But the Senate declined to take a vote and the session ended.

Our heartfelt sympathies to his family.

From our pal, Mike Weatherford, at the Review-Journal:

Impressionist Danny Gans’ death was accidental and the cause was hydromorphone toxicity due to chronic pain syndrome, Coroner Mike Murphy announced this afternoon.

Hydromorphone is a synthetic opiate more commonly known as Dilaudid.

“This was not drug abuse,” Murphy said. “What I’m trying to be clear about is, we have an issue involving Mr. Gans’ health and the hydromorphone, and as a result of a combination of those issues, Mr. Gans succumbed to his health condition.”

Dilaudid was “a factor in exacerbating those risks” of his pre-existing conditions, hypertensive cardiovascular disease and polycythemia, a thickening of the red blood cells often described as “the opposite of anemia.”

Dilaudid's analgesic potency is from two to eight times that of morphine, but it is shorter-acting and produces more sedation than morphine, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Murphy said the coroner’s office has met with the family.

“We are trying to respect their privacy and treat them appropriately as we deal with all families... They’ve been very good to work with.”

Gans had shoulder surgery in November, days after his show closed at The Mirage, and another “clean-up” procedure in March, according to his manager, Chip Lightman.

“Could they have given him that during his recovery?” Lightman mused, saying he did not know one way or another. “I don’t know where he would have gotten (Dilaudid) from but from his doctor, that’s all I could figure.”

However, Lightman said, “It would just be very odd for Danny to take too much pain medicine because it would dry his vocal chords out. He wouldn’t really do that because it would hurt his voice.”

Lightman also said Gans “was having terrible pain in his shoulder,” related to a chronic condition that dated back to another surgery in 2006. Gans had the November surgery “immediately” after The Mirage show closed “so he could recuperate before we started rehearsals” for the new Wynn showcase that opened in February.

“Then he was in terrible pain again in March from the shoulder stuff, so they went in again and got rid of some scar tissue and did some clean-up from the original surgery.”

Gans played golf the day before he died.

“I know playing golf exasperated (the pain),” Lightman said. “I know he was feeling pretty good (but) he was exhausted from not sleeping the night before. Then he had his massage that he usually has on Thursday (April 30) then went to take a nap. Period. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

Gans discussed some of his ongoing physical issues in a February 2006 interview, when he was about to reopen his show at The Mirage after a three-month break for surgeries on his right rotator cuff and left hand.

As he described it at the time, the cumulative wear and tear from years of baseball, golf, martial arts and the physicality of his nightly show had caught up to him, requiring a three-month break from his show.

“I had a lot of bone spurs in there (the shoulder) and a lot of scar tissue from hurting it — little tears and I continued to perform. Maybe it would take four to six weeks to fix the tear that maybe I started three years ago. I said, ‘Oh, you know, I’ll just take more Tylenol and I’ll be OK,” Gans said in 2006.

“And sure enough it went away, but what happened was, Mother Nature fixed it in its own way with scar tissue. And now the muscle is kind of detoured in a different way....

“And then I would hurt it again. I’d swing a golf club or something: ‘Ow! OK, I’ll take more Motrin tonight. I’ve got a show, I don’t want to miss.’ Because I had that one period in 2003, I missed a ton.

“That was a really bad year. I lost both my parents, I had an automobile accident, it was just a really rough time.”

During the 2006 interview, he said, “Right now I can’t raise my arm up over my head yet. So I had to cut a couple of things in the show where I used to use my right arm, now I use my left arm.”

Gans played one season of minor-league baseball before an injured Achilles tendon redirected him into show business. Baseball “was the start of it,” he said in 2006. “Lifting weights, playing golf, and I studied martial arts for about five years. Most of that was before I came to Vegas.

“Finally that one little straw that broke the camel’s back finally happened,” he said of the shoulder injury. “I knew I had to take the time off. I think I did something in the gym. The worse my shoulder got and the more doctors I saw about it, (they said), ‘You’re going to need some significant time off. In order to delay that, you need to get into the gym and strengthen the muscles around it.’ ”

Gans said that was a tough time “when I said, ‘OK, I have to take this time off.’ We needed to give The Mirage 120 days notice and that’s when my shoulder was at its worst.”

After he started performing again, Gans said it was difficult to rest his hand properly.

“The tough thing with a hand surgery is, unlike a knee or a shoulder or something, you can rest those. With your hand, it’s tough to give it a break. You can’t really do it. You can ice it, but as soon as I take the ice away and go grab something, then I’m using it. ... Always after the show, I put an ice pack on my back and sit down at the table and write all my notes about the show.”

Gans, 52, died early May 1 at his Henderson home after having trouble breathing. His wife called 911, but paramedics couldn’t revive the entertainer.

The coroner’s office performed an autopsy later that day, but officials waited for toxicology and tissue tests from an independent laboratory before making their final determination.

From our pal, Mary Manning at the Las Vegas Sun:

Las Vegas entertainer Danny Gans' death was an accident and underlying health problems were a factor, the Clark County coroner said Tuesday.

Chronic pain syndrome treated by a pain medication contributed to the death of Daniel Davies Gans. High blood pressure also was a factor, as well as a red blood cell disorder.

Clark County Coroner Michael Murphy said Gans had a toxic reaction to hydromorphone, which is a common pain medication such as Dilaudid, in addition to other physical causes, he said.

Murphy would not release the amount of the drug found in Gans' blood.

"That's a quality of care issue that this office does not address," he said.

The coroner wouldn’t say whether Gans had a prescription for the painkiller. "This is not an issue of drug abuse," he said.

Murphy wouldn’t release the name of Gans' physician.

The coroner's investigation indicated that Gans had hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which causes high blood pressure, thickens the walls of the heart and can create conditions that cause heart problems.

In addition, Gans had polycythemia, a condition that produces more red blood cells than necessary and thickens the blood. The condition is sometimes known as the opposite of anemia, where there are too few red blood cells.

Murphy released Gans' cause of death during a Tuesday afternoon news conference. He said his office reached the conclusion earlier Tuesday.

"We send heartfelt sympathy to the Gans family," Murphy said. The coroner said he had spoken to the family before the news conference.

Murphy said the coroner's office can rule a death one of five different ways: natural, accidental, homicide, suicide and undetermined.

Dr. Gary Telgenhoff, a medical examiner in the coroner's office, said Gans' underlying health conditions already were serious upon his death. Telgenhoff said he had not spoken to Gans' physician during his examination.

Gans, 52, was the headliner at the Encore resort. The singer, actor and impressionist died in his sleep early in the morning of May 1 at his Henderson home. Although the time of death is listed as 7:35 a.m., Murphy explained that a certified health care professional must pronounce a death before it becomes official.

Gans' wife, Julie, found him about 3:44 a.m. May 1. She called 911 and said he was having trouble breathing. Paramedics arrived seven minutes later. He never was alone from the time his wife found him until he was pronounced dead, Murphy said.

After Gans' death, the coroner sent tissue and microscopic samples for lab testing and it took almost six weeks to receive the results, Murphy said.

Over the years, Gans had been billed as "The Man of Many Voices." Gans was named Las Vegas Entertainer of the Year a dozen times.

Gans wasn't always an entertainer. He played minor league baseball until he suffered an injury. He eventually performed in Las Vegas at the Stratosphere, the Rio and the Mirage before going to the Encore, where he opened Feb. 10 in the 1,500-seat Encore Theater.

After his death the Encore posted Gans’ picture on the resort's marquee with the message: "Our friend forever. Danny Gans. 1952 2009."

Okay, it's time for our annual listing of the various 4th of July Firework Displays and Celebrations.  Check back often as this list will get added to throughout the month.

Thursday, July 2nd:

Annual Night of Fire at the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway features fireworks, SMRA Supermodifieds on Thursday, July 2

 The Bullring, Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s NASCAR-sanctioned 3/8-mile asphalt oval, will kick off the Independence Day holiday weekend on Thursday, July 2, with its annual Night of Fire. The night of family fun features fireworks and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series stock car racing, a jet car and SMRA Supermodifieds.

Spectator gates will open at 5 p.m. with racing at 7 p.m. Fireworks are tentatively scheduled for 9:30 p.m.
Stock car racing classes include: SMRA Supermodifieds (50 laps), MetroPCS Super Late Models (76 laps), Chargers, Outlaw Enduro Bombers (76 laps), twin Legends Cars features, Bandoleros.

Spectator admission:
Adults: $15.
Senior citizens and military personnel with ID: $12.
Children (6-12): $5.
Family 4-Pak (2 adults and 2 children): $38.
Stockyard (VIP tailgate area in Turns 3 and 4): $149 (includes 4 admission tickets). Stockyard passes are available for purchase by visiting or calling the LVMS Ticket Services Office.

The Bullring's concession stand offers a family-friendly dollar menu, including $1 hot dogs, $1 soda and $1 beer. For more information, please call the LVMS ticket office at (702) 644-4444or visit www.LVMS.com.

Friday, July 3rd (only):

The multi-platinum selling group All-American Rejects will perform at Mandalay Bay Beach Friday, July 3. The concert is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. 

Tickets priced at $40, including taxes and service charges, are now on sale and available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Mandalay Bay at (877) 632-7400 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.

Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Friday, July 3rd - 5th:

 Beer Bash on the Bridge

July 3 – 5, 2009

New York, New York

 Who: 20 Brewers with 40 Beers

Featuring DJ Chris Landry daily – Live entertainment nightly

Dates: July 3 – July 5, 2009

Price: $40 per person in advance / $45 at event

$95   3-day Pass (tax not included in prices)

Includes unlimited beer and entertainment

$10 per person – Bridge access only

Cash Bars will be available

Limited Menu for purchase will be available

*Must be 21 or older

See the Box Office for tickets and information

Time: Friday, July 3: Bridge open from 3 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Sat. & Sun., July 4 & 5: Bridge open from noon – 11 p.m.

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TRAVEL BACK IN TIME TO 1969 AS FREMONT STREET

EXPERIENCE

PRESENTS “SUMMER OF ’69: VEGAS OR BUST”

July 3rd - 5th

“American Pie 4^th of July” commemorates Independence Day weekend from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5 and highlights Fremont Street Experience’s Viva Vision show, “Don McLean’s American Pie.” Headline concerts will feature Janis Joplin’s Original Band Big Brother & The Holding Company on Friday, July 3 and The Grass Roots on Saturday, July 4. The evening of the 4^th of July will also showcase a brilliant virtual fireworks show on the Viva Vision canopy.

 Saturday, July 4th (only):

60th Annual Boulder City Damboree

When: July 4
Where: Boulder City
Schedule: Pancake Breakfast - Bicentennial Park - 7am
Parade - Nevada Way - 9am
Damboree Ceremonies and Midway Booths - Broadbent Park- 11am
Fireworks Festivities - Veteran's Memorial Park - 6pm
Visit the Boulder Dam Damboree online

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Downtown Henderson Fourth of July fireworks & celebration

When: 6-9 p.m. July 4

Where: Henderson Events Plaza and surrounding area

Admission: Free

More Info:    702-267-2171

 Attendees will enjoy three stages of live music by the Henderson Symphony Orchestra, country music entertainer Randy Anderson and more.

Additionally, families will have the opportunity to indulge in a variety of food and beverage options while the children are entertained by an assortment of fun activities including a rock wall, dunk tank, bounce house and more. The

Independence Day celebration will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display from atop City Hall.

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Las Vegas Springs Preserve and the Las Vegas Philharmonic Team Up for

"Star Spangled Spectacular!"

(note: NEW LOCATION!!!)

This year, Las Vegas’ favorite and most patriotic pops concert has a new home: the Springs Preserve! Join us on Saturday, July 4 for "Star Spangled Spectacular" as we celebrate the birth of our nation with a fun and rousing line-up of patriotic music performed by the Las Vegas Philharmonic, under the direction of Conductor David Itkin.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert begins at 8 p.m. in our beautiful outdoor amphitheater. Tickets are limited and available for purchase online and at the Preserve box office. There are three ticket levels offered:

VIP Package – $82.50 per person
Includes pre-concert VIP reception in the ORIGEN Rotunda with complimentary gourmet hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine service, and an exclusive tabled seating area in the amphitheater.

Amphitheater Seating – $27.50 per person
Includes assigned concert seating within the Springs Preserve amphitheater and access to on-grounds food and beverage concession stations.

Grounds Pass – $17.50 per person
Includes non-seated access to the concert venue amid standing cocktail tables, as well as the balcony at the Springs Cafe by Wolfgang Puck, and access to food and beverage concession stations.

Springs Preserve annual passholders receive a discount of $7.50 off VIP or reserved amphitheater seating. Children 12 and under receive $7.50 off amphitheater seating or grounds pass (cannot be combined with passholder discount). VIP and Amphitheater seat assignments will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 6 p.m. on July 4. Please bring your printed ticket with you.

For info on purchasing tickets: https://websales.omniticket.com/lvs/

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MYSTIC ROOTS BAND RETURN TO

MANDALAY BAY BEACH SATURDAY, JULY 4th

                         Evening Highlighted by Fireworks Extravaganza

Mystic Roots Band (MRB), known for its original style of reggae, hip-hop and dance music with overtones of rock, funk and ska, will perform live on the Mandalay Bay Beach stage Saturday, July 4. The fireworks show is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. followed by the concert at 9:15 p.m.

Tickets priced at $20, not including applicable service charges, are now on sale and available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Mandalay Bay at (877) 632-7400 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

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STATION CASINOS ANNOUNCES

NINE-PROPERTY FIREWORKS SHOW ON 4^TH OF JULY

Plans are in the works for nine fireworks showsto go off simultaneously on the 4th of July from nine different Station Casinos’ properties throughout the valley including Red Rock Resort, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Boulder Station, neighboring properties Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho will be a shared location, Fiesta Henderson, Aliante Station, Santa Fe Station and Sunset Station.

The fireworks show this evening and the nine-property fireworks show on the 4th of July have been produced the Grucci Family, one of the premiere fireworks companies in the world.

Please note that the County's Red, White & Boom has been cancelled and is being replaced by Red, White & Splash --smaller community events at the following county pools:

Laughlin, Nevada announces:

When: July4, the festivities begin just after dusk
Where: Laughlin
How Much: FREE to the public along the Laughlin River walk
More Info: 800-227-5245 or 702-298-2214
Enjoyone of the mostspectaular fireworks display in the West choreographed to fabulous patriotic music simulcast on various local radio stations.

For those interested in this year's 4th of July fireworks displays, stay tuned right here. Beginning Monday, June 8th, we will start our annual listings of the best displays coming your way for the upcoming hot holiday week-end celebration.