It’s no secret that I consider most of today’s untalented, anything-for-a-buck political consultants with the same reverence of “a steaming pile of cow dung.”
Alas, one of the actual good ones passed away yesterday.
If you’ve been around Nevada politics long enough, you’ve probably heard the name Jim Denton even if you didn’t realize it.
I don’t remember how I ever came into Jim’s orbit – I think it was during former Gov. Gibbons’ 2010 gubernatorial campaign – but his influence made a significant difference in how I viewed campaigns.
He wasn’t a loud, spotlight-seeking type. He didn’t run for office. He didn’t give fiery speeches.
But behind the scenes, he helped shape the political future of our state for decades.
And he did it with a mix of sharp instincts, steady advice, and old-school integrity that’s become too rare these days.
“Jim was one of the sharpest political minds Nevada has ever known,” former Nevada State Sen. Randolf Townsend told me this morning. “He never sought the spotlight, but his influence was everywhere – from city halls to the state Capitol.”
“Jim believed in doing the job right, staying humble, and lifting up good people, no matter their party,” Townsend continued. “Nevada lost a true gentleman, and I lost a good friend.”
A Trusted Hand in Tough Campaigns
The job of a political consultant usually comes with plenty of spin and backroom deals. But Jim wasn’t like that.
He played it straight. He helped candidates craft winning campaigns, mostly at the local and legislative level. And he didn’t play favorites.
Republicans, Democrats – it didn’t matter to Jim as long as the candidate was serious about serving the people and running a clean race.
Some of the names he worked with are among Nevada’s most well-known: former Congressman and Gov. Jim Gibbons, former Lieutenant Governor Sue Wagner, and multiple justices on the Nevada Supreme Court such as Cliff Young and Bill Maupin.
“Jim believed in me before most people knew my name,” reflected Clark County District Court Judge Susan Johnson. “He was the kind of consultant every candidate dreams of – wise, loyal, and honest to a fault.”
“I owe much of my public service to his guidance and belief,” Judge Johnson continued. “His passing is a loss to Nevada, but his impact will be felt for generations.”
Breaking Barriers the Right Way
One of Jim’s greatest contributions was helping elect a long list of political “firsts” in Nevada.
He worked with Barbara Bennett, Reno’s first female mayor.
He helped Deborah Agosti become the first woman to sit on the Washoe District Court bench.
And he guided the campaigns of Bernice Martin-Mathews, Nevada’s first black female state senator, and Fidel Salcedo, Reno’s first Hispanic justice of the peace.
This wasn’t about checking boxes. Denton didn’t believe in identity politics.
He believed in good candidates – smart, steady, and willing to do the work.
And when someone like that came along, he gave them a fighting chance, even when the odds were stacked against them.
A Conservative Core with a Common-Sense Touch
Though his client list crossed party lines, Jim’s approach leaned conservative – fiscally responsible, socially moderate, and allergic to drama.
He wasn’t a fan of shouting matches or ideological purity tests. His style was more “coffee at the diner” than “pundit on cable news.”
And unlike many modern-day consultants, Jim drew a hard line: he didn’t lobby. He didn’t hang around the legislature trying to cash in on his campaign connections.
That may not sound like a big deal, but in today’s political world, that kind of discipline is rare. Jim believed in the integrity of the system, and he practiced what he preached.
The Quiet Legacy
Jim’s influence in Nevada wasn’t just about winning races. He helped raise the standard for how campaigns were run in this state.
He showed that you could be successful without selling out. That you could work across the aisle without giving up your values.
And that sometimes the most important people in politics are the ones you don’t see on camera.
“Jim was the epitome of what you would imagine a classic political consultant to be,” wrote Jim Bieber of Bieber Communications.
“His institutional knowledge of Nevada and exceptional strategic thinking served him and his clients well,” Bieber continued. “It was a pleasure and an honor to have worked with him.”
In a time when campaigns often feel more like political theater than public service, Jim Denton was the real deal. Steady hand. Sharp mind. Quiet strength.
And for Nevada, that made a big difference. RIP.
