Las Vegas Mayor Shoots Playboy Spread

Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman has “made history” by being the first politician to shoot a Playboy spread. From the news release, which inexplicably was sent two days late:

Photo: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas…unless you’re its Mayor. Oscar B. Goodman, the Mayor of Sin City, took on a heavenly assignment recently as a Celebrity Guest Photographer for Playboy.com. One would think this would be an easy task for the former Mafia lawyer who once defended reputed hitman Tony “The Ant” Spilotro (immortalized by Joe Pesci in Casino) but Goodman remarked to Playboy.com: “I was as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof when I came in here.â€

Goodman — who enjoys an unbelievable 86% approval rating as the Mayor of Las Vegas — made history as the first politician to be retained as a Playboy.com Celebrity Guest Photographer. He photographed Miss January 2001 Irina Voronina in the luxurious Hugh Hefner suite atop the Palms Hotel & Casino in early May.

“I had a great time shooting this pictorial for Playboy.com,†said Mayor Goodman. “The city of Las Vegas has a terrific relationship with Playboy and the company is even opening a casino here at the Palms early next year. Personally, I have always been a fan of Playboy and the way they celebrate and honor the beauty of women. It was a wonderful experience and I learned a great deal about photography too. Only in Las Vegas folks!â€

The Mayor̢۪s pictorial of Irina Voronina plus behind-the-scenes photographs from the sessions can be seen only in the Playboy Cyber Club (http://cyber.playboy.com), Playboy.com̢۪s subscription site, beginning today, Monday, May 16.

Playboy.com̢۪s Celebrity Guest Photographer feature is enjoying increasing popularity with some of today̢۪s top names in entertainment angling to get in on the action. Previous celebrity photographers include multi-platinum rapper Nelly, DMX, Ja Rule, Xzibit, NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carmen Electra, rocker Tommy Lee, Korn frontman Jonathan Davis and Grammy-winning duo OutKast.

Goodman must be proud, joining such illustrious company! Of course, this is better than I had at first thought–I feared Goodman was on the other side of the camera….

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Kent says:

    I feared Goodman was on the other side of the camera….

    That kind of thing can make people permanently impotent.

  2. GSR says:

    Thanks for clarifying what side of the camera the Honorable Mayor was on. Now that he’s broken the ice for politicians, I’m wondering who will be next? We’ve got a mayor out here in Boston who would probably pose in front of the camera if it got him a few more votes.

  3. Richard says:

    I think it is not right. As a politician he needs to be supportive of better causes that benefit our society, as it is we have to deal with prostitution in the downtown area.