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Jun. 02, 2008
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JANE ANN MORRISON: Evidence in Gibbons vs. Gibbons divorce painfully dribbles in

JANE ANN MORRISON
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A couple of bits of information have surfaced to support first lady Dawn Gibbons' contention her estranged husband is romantically involved with Kathy Karrasch, known otherwise as the "other woman" in divorce papers.

First, the woman's husband, Reno podiatrist Craig Karrasch, isn't answering press calls but has been chatting freely with at least one patient in recent weeks.

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    • The podiatrist told the patient that his wife, Kathy, left him eight months ago and that he believes she and Gov. Jim Gibbons are seeing each other. The patient told others, including my source, the doctor was upset and talked about it throughout a half-hour appointment.

    Why the foot doctor would talk about his marriage and the governor to a patient is hard to fathom.

    The second piece of information is found in the book "From Bordello to Ballot Box," published in 2001. Author Jessi Winchester, a former legal prostitute and sometime political candidate, wrote about seeing Jim Gibbons with another woman during the 1996 campaign.

    He was running for Congress as a Republican, and Winchester was seeking the same post as a Democrat. He won the race in November; she lost in the primary to Spike Wilson.

    On pages 162 and 163 of her book, Winchester told of seeing Jim Gibbons with a pregnant woman taking the plane from Las Vegas to Reno after the AFL-CIO convention, where they were all seeking labor's endorsement. That's well within the 15-year time period the governor acknowledges a friendship with an unnamed woman.

    In the book, Winchester described spotting him waiting for the same plane. "A lady sat next to him and they were laughing, oblivious to the crowd of people waiting around them. Hooker instinct kicked in. The woman clearly was not his wife and the situation smacked of nonbusiness fraternization."

    Winchester said she grabbed a camera and took a photo. (However, she has not found that photo.)

    She wrote that Jim Gibbons and the "unknown lady" sat in the "back row huddled together giggling and completely engrossed in each other's company."

    Winchester said her "hooker instinct" made her curious about the nature of the relationship. "Especially since she was pregnant."

    When the plane landed, he was among the first to leave the plane, and the woman delayed getting off.

    Near baggage claim, the woman went to get her bag. "Walking toward the opposite end of the terminal, we saw Gibbons' wife wave to him as he strode toward their Suburban."

    On Thursday, Winchester confirmed the other woman was Kathy Karrasch. She said Karrasch and Gibbons were "acting like high school sweethearts, not just platonic friends," basing her conclusion on her experience in Nevada's legal brothels.

    Winchester said she didn't name Karrasch in the book because her publisher edited out a reference to "Mrs. K."

    Winchester said she became friends with Dawn and Jim Gibbons while on the campaign trail. Her book includes a photo of Winchester standing between them. "I didn't see him as a womanizer," Winchester said, adding that he was "always respectful and a gentleman" with her.

    Winchester, who ran for lieutenant governor in 1998 and lost, now lives on a ranch outside Winnemucca, writing columns and giving lectures.

    Now laughing and giggling on a plane isn't proof of an affair. But add that to Craig Karrasch's indiscreet chatting with his patient.

    It lends credence to those who say Dawn Gibbons is telling the truth, and her husband is not, about his involvement with the "other woman."

    If it's true, what would be so wrong about saying he's in love with someone else? It happens. And it would end this entire back and forth about who is telling the truth.

    Because Nevada is a no-fault divorce state, it makes no difference to the court, though a public airing of such allegations against a very public figure might hasten or sweeten alimony or property settlement negotiations.

    Jim Gibbons has shown an arrogant recklessness in his public appearances with Kathy Karrasch, whether in 1996 when he was a congressional candidate or in 2008, when he's a sitting governor faced with budget challenges seldom seen in Nevada.

    Is it a distraction he and the state can afford to play out one bit of evidence at a time?

    Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275.

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    Mad American wrote on June 03, 2008 08:49 AM: The difference between other scandals and this one is that the girlfriend was pregnant! Only a DNA test will tell if the child is the husband's or the boyfriend's. Unfortunately for Nevada, looks like the boyfriend is the governor.


    Auda wrote on June 02, 2008 09:47 PM: I'm fairly certain the previous commentors who made reference to Bill Clinton's affair 10 year ago are aware that he did not get off scot-free... he indeed was impeached by the House. MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. And as you may recall, it received nonstop media coverage. Perhaps it is one of those topics easy to forget when politically expedient or easy to remember when trying to rile up political theater.

    I, for one, appreciate the role of the press in holding government officials accountable.


    DJ2 wrote on June 02, 2008 08:05 PM: I'm simply saturated with being fed a steady diet of inuendo, blatant lies, denials, misperceptions, accusations, back-and-forths, and on and on in scandle after scandle. As that Western song wisely put it, "My give a dam-s busted!"

    As a long-time Las Vegas resident and observer, the piles of dung we've been forced to eat all the while being reassured it was chocolate pudding, have been so frequent, so high, so rancid, and so steaming that it's no longer shocking. There's corruption everywhere, yup, more of the same. And more of the same, and, yes, even more of the same.

    So, I have very little emotional resource left to invest in the play-by-play of another scandle...used to care, but not any more.


    jrskpr wrote on June 02, 2008 05:50 PM: "Elected officials are suppose to be a model for good citizenship, ethics and good morals"--and in what alternate universe do you reside?? Politicians do NOT get to Congress or, for that matter, Governor,displaying those qualities. If they do, so few people would accept it as real, election would be doubtful. We subject potential office holders to such unrealistic expectations, it's no damned wonder they fail so often and so miserably.


    Mr. X wrote on June 02, 2008 05:34 PM: No one cared about Slick Willy and Monica?! Are you friggin' serious?! I was stuck watching that BS story on the news 24/7 for god know how long! What goes around comes around. Deal with it, and quit crying.


    DENNIS1944 wrote on June 02, 2008 04:55 PM: Who the hell cares? Mr Clinton got a B.J. from Monica and no one seemed to think there was much wrong with that. He lied under oath, was impeached and no one found anything wrong with that. I suggest ALL of you stay out of peoples private lives. How would you like them mucking around in yours????


    jimbo wrote on June 02, 2008 02:54 PM: hey,

    howard the coward is back! nice to see you posting under your own name again, buddy. still on that "vacation"? must be nice to work in the "real world" like you do.


    moe wrote on June 02, 2008 02:30 PM: so miss mazzio was right bout gibbons...


    Auslander wrote on June 02, 2008 02:07 PM: I read somewhere that "hooker instinct" is admissible in court only if it is corroborated by second hand office gossip. So it must be true!


    wildbill wrote on June 02, 2008 11:28 AM: I LOVE all this politician bashing! All are fair game...especially the hipocrites.


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