Tuesday, Feb. 27, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
State GOP Chairman John Mason insists his goal is to have the audit completed by this May's state convention in Reno.
"It's a function that's probably extraordinary for a political party to do, but we're prepared to take a look at it," Mason says.
But some now are questioning whether the audit will ever take place.
Last month, after struggling to find an accounting firm to look at the books (several wanted too much money because the 1995 records were in such disarray), the party thought it had a taker in the Reno-based Pangborn & Co.
After Pangborn's interest became public, however, the firm, once associated with State Treasurer Bob Seale, a Republican, went the same route as the others the GOP had sought out. It demanded a ton of money to do the job. That prompted the party to part ways with Pangborn.
Charles Muth, the state GOP's executive director, says Pangborn wanted $40,000, which the party can't afford in an election year.
Muth says an internal committee now has been formed to examine the books, and the hope is to find a CPA firm to review the committee's work.
But that, says GOP Treasurer Bob Beers, won't come close to the full-blown audit Mason wants.
Beers, who acknowledges 1995 was a "chaotic" year for the party, says he doesn't believe, however, that the audit is needed.
"What we're doing now is probably a reasonable response to an oversight requirement," he says.
Even Mason says he doesn't think the audit is necessary. The party is in its best financial shape ever, with nearly $200,000 in the bank.
A preliminary review, Mason says, has found nothing unusual, but he still wants to reassure State Central Committee members that all is well after the the stormy 1995.
Beers says cries for the audit have come from party dissidents, including his predecessor, ousted state treasurer Bob Bingham.
"The oversight requirement is being stirred up by disaffected malcreants for reasons I cannot fathom who appear to be engaging in activities designed to hurt the party," Beers says.
From the day he took over as treasurer last May, Bingham began to point out about what he considered were numerous book-keeping irregularities. After two months of complaints, GOP leaders had heard enough. Bingham was forced to resign. But he went down kicking and screaming, penning a letter to Central Committee members outlining his allegations.
GOP officials have since denounced Bingham, who's not an accountant, and have claimed that his own incompetence was responsible for the poor shape of the records.
"I think Bob Bingham has nothing worthwhile to say," quips Mason, who adds Bingham had a chance to back up his accusations at a face-to-face meeting with party leaders and never showed up.
An audit, it seems, would let everyone know once and for all who's right. But will Mason and the Republicans be able to pull it off?
*****
Bob Stupak has overcome some big obstacles in his life.
That includes holding onto his life (probably at the top of his list) after being critically injured in a motorcycle accident a year ago.
And who would have thought Stupak would actually build the 1,149-foot Stratosphere Tower, one of the tallest structures in the world, let alone be around to watch it open.
But some say his biggest challenge still lies ahead of him -- convincing state gaming regulators he's fit to return to the casino industry.
For two decades, until his motorcycle accident last March, Stupak was the casino industry's perennial bad boy, always stretching the rules.
Since coming out of his coma five weeks after the crash, Stupak has worked hard to change his image and portray himself as a humanitarian, rather than the selfish, egotistical huckster regulators have known.
Last weekend, for example, he became the darling of the New York media, when he donated $100,000 to the United Negro College Fund for a chance to play with the Harlem Globetrotters at Madison Square Garden.
On March 6, Stupak will get a chance to see if his hard work has paid off.
He goes before the State Gaming Control Board in Las Vegas for his license to serve as chairman of the Stratosphere Corp., which plans to open the Stratosphere megaresort complex in April.
Given Stupak's flair for high drama, the hearing should be worthy of "Must See TV."
Stupak is confident he'll get his license. So is politically connected lawyer, Frank Schreck.
"Based on the information I've seen, I would think that he stands a very good chance of being approved in that position," says Schreck.
Stupak isn't seeking a license to run the daily affairs of the Stratosphere. He merely wants to serve on its board of directors.
Still, even Schreck acknowledges Stupak is likely to face some tough questions about his past business practices and personal habits that often caught the Control Board's attention.
Schreck got a pretty good idea of the board's concerns last Tuesday at pre-hearing conference with the gaming agents who conducted Stupak's background investigation.
"I don't think there's anything I heard that already hasn't been reviewed by the board," Schreck says.
But then Schreck is paid to say that. He also can't predict how individual board members will react to his unpredictable client.
Schreck acknowledges everything in Stupak's colorful past -- among them the controversial vacation package deals and the political setup of ex-City Councilman Frank Hawkins -- will be "fair game" at the March 6 hearing.
That means Stupak could be doing a lot of ducking and weaving, something he's become adept at over the years.
JEFF GERMAN is a senior investigative reporter. His column also appears in the Las Vegas SUN on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. He can be reached at 259-4067 or on the Internet at [email protected]
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