Jeff German: Binion family still fighting for control of Horseshoe Club

Tuesday, Sept. 10, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Last week, Becky Behnen was voted out as co-president at a board of directors meeting.

That left her brother, Jack Binion, firmly entrenched at the helm.

The vote, which kept Behnen on the board, was taken after Key Fechser, grandson of the late Horseshoe founder, Benny Binion, was named a director.

Fechser, insiders say, has a penchant for living in the fast lane like his uncle, Ted Binion, whose gaming license has been suspended because of drug use.

Fechser might face some tough questions before winning approval from the State Gaming Control Board.

Behnen, who's suing Jack Binion for alleged mismanagement, apparently has taken her ouster in stride.

She's considering taking her case against her brother to federal court.

* Secretary of State Dean Heller has cleared Assembly Democratic Leader Richard Perkins of allegations that he violated campaign spending laws.

The accusations were lodged by the Henderson Democrat's lackluster Republican opponent, Jim Born.

The secretary of state found that Perkins, a Henderson Police captain, was within his rights to spend $1,000 in campaign money on business suits.

Lawmakers don't get a clothing allowance at the Legislature.

* The prolific fund-raising trio of Dr. Elias Ghanem, Mike Sloan and Frank Schreck are pooling their talents to help Spike Wilson, the Democratic candidate in the 2nd Congressional District.

Ghanem and company, who've been helping Rep. John Ensign, the Republican in the 1st Congressional District, are hosting a $1,000-a-couple fund-raiser Wednesday for Wilson, a former Democratic state senator from Reno. The reception is at Schreck's Spanish Trail home.

The Wilson camp has persuaded Don Fowler, co-chairman of the Democratic National Committee, to attend the 6 p.m. event.

Top casino industry executives, including Mirage Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn, are said to be buying tickets to the fund-raiser. Wynn has made it known he supports Wilson over Republican challenger Jim Gibbons.

Wilson is hoping the event will raise $50,000 for his campaign.

* Ex-prosecutor Tom Leen was the biggest disappointment in last week's primary.

Leen, who has widespread support from the law enforcement community in District Court Department 4, finished a disappointing second to Kathy Hardcastle. Both advance to the Nov. 5 general election.

The second-place finish came after Leen had spent a ton of money flooding the airwaves with campaign adds. His former boss, ex-DA Rex Bell, was among those who endorsed him.

Hardcastle, the wife of Family Court Judge Gerald Hardcastle, meanwhile, is picking up even more support as a result of edging out Leen in the primary.

Leen will have to pick up his campaign a notch if he expects to turn things around in November.

* Las Vegas businessman Kenny Guinn has been on the road a lot lately.

The popular Republican has been scouring the state in search of more support for his 1998 bid for governor.

He's been making important contacts in Northern Nevada and the rural counties.

Guinn's wife, Dema, also has upped her profile and is said to be taking a liking to the campaign trail.

She'll be a big asset to Guinn when the race heats up next year.

JEFF GERMAN is a senior investigative reporter. His column appears in the Las Vegas SUN on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. He can be reached at 259-4067 or on the Internet at german@lvsun.com