Lois Tarkanian has long been one of the most interesting stories in Las Vegas politics. And not just because she's the wife of ex-UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian, the most compelling figure in Vegas sports ever and one of the most compelling in college sports history.

Tarkanian sticks out as a member of a Las Vegas City Council that often challenges Augusta National in insider chumminess. Because Lois Tarkanian sometimes seems to vote her mind, to come up with her own opinions.

Sounds reasonable. But on a City Council that practically asks Mayor Oscar Goodman if it's really sunny out ('Is it our position that it's sunny, Oscar?'), this is Strip-shaking stuff.

Now, Tarkanian's Ward is being redistricted to make her largely politically irrelevant. (See Las Vegas Review-Journal story here.)

These darn coincidences!

Vegas activist and former city council member Steve Miller immediately noted how Tarkanian called for an independent investigation into golf course developer Billy Walters' Royal Links land deal in July of 2005, implying this was Lady Tark's payback for putting the public first.

Whether you believe that or not, it sure makes for one juicy story possibility.

The wife of Jerry Tarkanian is possibly facing a political attack for sticking up to a sports gambler (Billy Walters) who now controls most of the big casino hotels' golf desks? How many run-ins did Tark The Shark have with sports gamblers while at UNLV? Or with the NCAA over alleged sports gamblers?

This is movie-of-the-week stuff. At minimum.

The Las Vegas City Council may be unwittingly inviting in a horde of outside media. Oh well. Everyone knows how much Goodman and the boys like scrutiny.

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