Donations to Legislature incumbents overwhelm foes

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998 | 10:41 a.m.

Jack Regan, the only incumbent state senator in Southern Nevada with a primary election opponent, has raised almost twice as much money as that foe.

The Las Vegas Democrat, seeking his second four-year term representing District 2 in the Senate, raised $83,674 through Tuesday's campaign finance filing deadline. Fellow Democrat Maggie Carlton raised $48,495.

Regan received most of his money from casinos and other businesses, as well as from fellow state Sens. Dean Rhoads, R-Tuscarora ($100), and Ray Shaffer, D-Las Vegas ($1,000). Carlton gained numerous labor donations as well as $250 from Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas. Regan and Carlton will square off in next Tuesday's primary. The winner will face a lightly-funded Republican in the Nov. 3 general election.

The only other Senate primary in Southern Nevada is in District 7, which state Sen. Kathy Augustine, R-Las Vegas, is vacating to run for state controller. The Democrats, who trail the Republicans 12-9 in the Senate, need to win this seat if they want to hold a majority during the 1999 Legislature.

The two Democrats vying for the District 7 seat, Terry Care and Russell Davis, have raised $48,386 and $19,330 respectively. Care's war chest includes $500 from Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas and $2,809 from the Nevada Senate Democrats. Davis received $250 from the campaign committee of Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa.

The winning Democrat will face Republican Jack Close, who is leaving his Assembly post. A noteworthy general election race is in District 3, where incumbent state Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, will face former Assemblyman Lou Toomin, a Republican. Coffin has raised $63,775 to Toomin's $19,400.

In Assembly races of note:

* In District 2, Independent American candidate Lucille Lusk has raised $36,199, compared to $34,142 for Democrat Lynette McDonald. Republican incumbent Assemblywoman Merle Berman's report was unavailable. The trio will face off in the general election. No Independent American candidate has ever been elected to the Legislature.

* Three candidates are vying for the District 4 vacancy left by GOP Assemblywoman Deanna Braunlin. But only Democrat Vince Triggs' report was available after Tuesday's filing deadline. He has raised $15,725.

* In District 7, incumbent Assemblyman Morse Arberry Jr. has out-raised fellow Democrat Louise Banks $12,400 to $2,045. The only Republican to file as of Tuesday, Craig Moore, has raised only $750.

* The report of District 12 Assemblywoman Genie Ohrenschall was unavailable. Two of her fellow Democratic primary opponents, Judy Witt and Kelvin Atkinson, reported $12,178 and $4,567 respectively.

* In District 13, Republican Assemblyman Dennis Nolan reported $24,825, while his GOP rival, Robert Byron Adams, listed no contributions. A Democrat in that race, John Lowes, has raised $4,000.

* Six candidates, including four Democrats, are seeking the District 15 seat that incumbent Close is leaving to run for the state Senate. The leading Democratic fund-raiser is Vince Juaristi, with $25,394. The lone Republican in that race, Jim Forte, has amassed $16,575.

* Seven candidates are going after the District 16 seat that Democratic Assemblyman Dario Herrera has vacated to run for the Clark County Commission. Chuck Gardner leads the Democrats with $19,580. The top Republican is Stefan Steel, with $8,595.

* District 18 Assemblyman Mark Manendo faces a Democratic primary challenge from Dave Brown, but has out-raised his opponent $30,675 to $4,325. The winner will face Republican Patty Slack.

* Democratic Assemblywoman Sandi Krenzer isn't running this year in District 19. The general election contestants, Democrat Jerry Claborn and Republican Gary Horrocks, have raised $25,952 and $21,378 respectively.

* District 20 Assemblywoman Kathy Von Tobel, who has raised $30,067, will face one of three Democrats in the general election. But the leading Democrat, John Oceguera, has out-raised her so far by collecting $32,642.

* Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany in District 21 has out-raised GOP primary opponent Rick Steinkamp $60,067 to $38,065. Of note is that Assembly Majority Floor Leader Richard Perkins, a Democrat, gave $500 to Steinkamp. The winner of the GOP primary will face Independent American candidate Chris Hansen in the general election.

Incumbent Democratic Assembly members Tom Collins (District 1), John Lee (District 3), Wendell Williams (District 6), Giunchigliani (District 9), Doug Bache (District 10), Ellen Koivisto (District 14), Gene Segerblom (District 22), Perkins (District 23), and David Parks (District 41) all have out-raised their general election opponents.