Wall street banker files to run against Reid

Wall Street baker John Chachas has filed the paperwork to run for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) seat, according to the Wall Street Journal:

What’s the difference between a Wall Street banker and a U.S. senator?

A punchline may come in handy if veteran media banker John Chachas runs for the Nevada Senate seat currently held by Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Chachas, co-head of Lazard’s media and digital-content practice, has filed the necessary paperwork to become a Republican Senate candidate. People working on behalf of Chachas are having conversations with GOP officials to determine whether he is a viable candidate. A Lazard spokesman declined to comment.

Chachas, 44 years old, has more than 20 years of Wall Street experience, including stints with Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse First Boston. He advised on the $18 billion buyout of Clear Channel Communications, Walt Disney’s 2006 sale of its ABC radio business and Lee Enterprises acquisition of Pulitzer newspapers. Lazard and Chachas also have become active restructuring advisers for struggling media companies.

Chachas, a third-generation Nevadan from rural Ely, is among a raft of Republicans who may chase after Reid’s Senate post. One of the leading potential candidates being floated is Rep. Dean Heller.

We don’t know much about Chachas yet, but when you’re trying to not come off as a carpetbagger tied to Wall Street’s problems, you probably don’t want the Wall Street Journal breaking the news about you filing for the race.

Right now, the GOP field in Nevada is looking like it will be crowded. There are a couple of wealthy attorneys — including Chuck Kozak — as well as former state Sen. Mark Amodei, physician Rudy Manthei, state GOP Chairwoman Sue Lowden, state Regent James Dean Leavitt and former state Assemblywoman Sharron Angle.