By Ned Barnett
You may not know Michele Fiore - yet - but she is a powerful, conservative woman who you will want to get to know. She has emerged from being a self-funded challenger for the Nevada Senate District 9 seat to become the leading grass-roots conservative Republican candidate for Shelley Berkley's Congressional seat.
A few "full disclosure" statements.
1. I first met Michele several years ago when discussing ways of marketing her remarkably good first-time film, SIREN, a theatrical film she wrote, produced, directed. I liked her when I met her; more important, I respected her as a visionary businesswoman, as a creative film producer and as a human being.
2. Last December, I met with Michele several times to help her launch her Senate District 9 election. I got to know her politically, and I got to know her as a businesswoman who owns and successfully manages (under intense government pressure that most in healthcare have come to know and loathe) a caring, humane business that helps Medicaid and Medicare patients receive non-medical home healthcare support to allow them to live independently in their homes instead of becoming institutionalized. Along the way, she created more than 1,300 jobs in Southern Nevada, while helping countless elderly and infirm citizens.
3. I was the first to pass along a lead to Michele about an opportunity to run for Congress and receive strong financial support for a viable attempt by a conservative woman to take down Shelley Berkley. I didn't make it happen, but I as a small cog in that wheel of events.
That being said, I am thrilled to report on her candidacy and to endorse Michele Fiore as a truly grass-roots candidate who can take back CD1 and return Las Vegas, Nevada to conservative representation in Washington.
Here is the full story, written by Chuck Muth and published today in Nevada News & Views: http://nevadanewsandviews.com/2010/03/13/hell-hath-no-fiore-like-a-craig-lake-scorned/ After this story (click on the link to see the article and the published comments), I'll fill in a few blanks, based on information I have and involvement I had in the process.
Hell Hath No Fiore like a Craig Lake Scorned -
(Chuck Muth) – Last minute filing maneuvers likely helped Republicans in three different races yesterday while administering a Brett Michaels-like screw job to one candidate.
If EVER there was going to be a chance to take out Rep. Shelley Berkley in Nevada’s CD 1 race, THIS is the year. And the conventional wisdom is that a woman backed by big bucks would have a better chance to win against the incumbent Democrat than a man.
As such, gaming chief Steve Wynn, reportedly furious with Berkley over her support for ObamaCare, has been actively looking for such a woman for weeks now. Word on the street was that Wynn, and possibly others with deep pockets, are willing to expend six-, maybe even seven-figures, in independent expenditures in this race if the right woman surfaced.
Earlier this week, Wynn met with and was impressed by conservative businesswoman Michelle Fiore – who at the time was running in the state Senate District 9 race against RINO (Republican In Name Only) state Sen. Dennis Nolan.
And Fiore had a clear shot at Nolan after Republican Assemblyman Chad Christensen arguably committed political suicide by dropping out of the SD 9 race last week and instead opted for the glory of being the sole GOP/LDS candidate in the U.S. Senate race. Of course, that was until Garn “Maybe” Mabey threw his hat and monkey wrench into Chad’s plans.
But back to Fiore.
Not sure whose idea it was, but about a week ago Michelle popped up on the CD 1 radar screen. She met with Wynn this week who, I’m told, was favorably impressed and gave his blessing. She also met with Nevada GOP leaders who, likewise, were favorably impressed – especially with the fact that Wynn was favorably impressed.
So impressed, by the way, that all three members of the Nevada Republican delegation to the Republican National Committee – Chairman Chris (Dis)Comfort, National Committeeman Bob List and National Committeewoman Heidi Smith – signed a “Rule 11” letter for Fiore.
A Rule 11 letter is rare but extremely valuable. It is, in reality, a pre-primary endorsement of a candidate. It provides the candidate with party resources not available to other Republicans in the race, including access to all-important donor databases, as well as gives a green light to national PACs to contribute to the anointed one.
Joe Heck, Republican candidate against Democrat incumbent Dina Titus in the Third Congressional District is also the beneficiary of a Rule 11 letter.
So, armed with the party’s Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval, access to donors she wouldn’t have otherwise, and the suggestions (promises?) of significant independent expenditures being expended on her (non-coordinated) behalf against her opponent, Fiore decided Thursday night to make the switch.
You can learn more about Michelle Fiore HERE on her campaign website.
Oh, and something not widely known or advertised yet, Fiore produced an independent film titled “Siren” in which she played the lead role a couple years back. Click HERE to get the details of the movie about an ordinary, middle-aged wife and mother who pursues her dream of becoming a rock star.
And normally, that would be that.
Two of the Republicans who had already filed in the CD 1 race are not considered as seriously viable candidates, now or in the future. But the third GOP candidate, Craig Lake, was another story altogether.
A young, promising businessman, Lake has been actively campaigning for the CD 1 seat for months. Although this is his first run at elective office, he’s been impressive on the campaign trail and has won over a lot of fans with his tenacity and commitment to conservative principles, including yours truly. Lake represents the party’s future and is not someone the party should risk losing by treating him like yesterday’s diapers.
Unfortunately, that’s just what they did.
GOP Chairman Chris (Dis)Comfort broke the news to Lake at eight o’clock yesterday morning, telling Lake he had an offer for him he couldn’t refuse (yes, he actually used that phrase according to Lake). And as yet another example of how hapless and ineffective (Dis)Comfort is as a party “leader”….Lake refused.
The offer (Dis)Comfort made to persuade Lake to abandon the CD 1 race was to instead jump into the Secretary of State race….where Republican Rob Lauer – who had already taken one for the team by switching from the congressional race in CD 3 to SoS to clear the field for Joe Heck – was already filed.
So (Dis)Comfort tried to fix the Craig Lake screw-job….by screwing Lauer.
Is this guy a political genius or what?
Lake deserved MUCH better than being subjected to a political root canal visit by Dr. (Dis)Comfort. In any event, Lake is staying in the CD 1 race.
So overall, despite the last-minute, ham-handed way this whole thing was handled, the GOP has a strong, likely well-financed candidate who could end up at least giving Berkley some Maalox moments in the general election.
If only the party had treated Craig Lake better, there wouldn’t be such a sour taste in my mouth about all of this.
Then again, with Chairman (Dis)Comfort involved, how could it have ended up any other way?
END OF ARTICLE
My comments: How Michele Fiore learned of Wynn’s potential interest - I was told by a senior CCRP official who asked me to off-the-record share this with the media (I did - Elizabeth Crum of Nevada News & Views) and to also share this with any strong potential woman candidates. I called Michele to let her know that Wynn might have an interest.
I was not provided the back-up information promised by my source, but Michele was able to take my news and make her own contacts with Wynn or his people and to start the ball rolling. The rest, as they say, is history.
Having known Michele for some years and having gotten to know her political aspirations and talents, I’m thrilled that we’ve got a real, sold grass-roots conservative constitutionalist running against Berkley. I do not know Craig Lake at all – he might also be an excellent candidate, and I have nothing against him – but I do know that Michele is a woman of strong personal integrity, a woman (and a person) who’s a great business owner/employer, a driver and pusher who can get jobs done for people. I think she’ll make a great candidate and a great Congresswoman from Nevada.
I am proud to endorse Michele Fiore for Congress, CD-1, Las Vegas, Nevada
Ned Barnett
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