Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Jim Gibbons leaves governor’s office without campaign debt

Gov. Jim Gibbons

Gov. Jim Gibbons

Former Gov. Jim Gibbons left office without campaign debt, having repaid over $120,000 to donors after he lost June's primary.

State law allows $10,000 contributions from a single individual or corporate entity for an election - $5,000 for a primary and $5,000 for a general election. Gibbons lost his primary to Republican Brian Sandoval, who was sworn in Monday as the state's 30th governor.

David Taylor, Gibbons' campaign treasurer, said the campaign account has between $5,000 and $10,000 left in it. The campaign is also trying to sell a bus Gibbons used in 2006 to travel around the state, though the engine was recently blown out.

Taylor also said that Gibbons' former campaign manager, Ron Bath, could get paid more for running the campaign if Gibbons gets additional campaign money.

Bath was paid $36,000 by the campaign, according to the latest campaign contribution and expense report, which covered the period between May and Oct. 21. The final campaign reports are not due until Jan. 15.

Almost a month after Gibbons lost his primary, he received ten $5,000 campaign contributions from companies controlled by Las Vegas developer Billy Walters. Walters did not return calls for comment for this article.

Taylor said the money repaid to donors had been set aside because the campaign foresaw the possibility Gibbons would lose the primary.

State law allows Gibbons' campaign to donate unspent money to other campaigns, to a charity or for a future campaign, Taylor said. Gibbons "hasn't made a decision yet," he said, on what he will do with any remaining money.

Gibbons has said he believes he won't run for public office again.

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