Gaming, developers fund commission races

Jeff Schweers

Monday, Jan. 5, 1998 | 10:40 a.m.

Casinos and developers are betting on a known quantity, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to three incumbent Clark County commissioners up for re-election this year.

Based on campaign reports filed with the secretary of state, the early money is flowing from the gaming and construction industries, with gaming playing a much larger role than in the past.

The combined take from gaming and casino money comes a few dollars shy of $500,000 -- 80 percent of the $606,000 that one-term incumbents Lorraine Hunt, Myrna Williams and Erin Kenny have reported as of Dec. 31.

"They are making sure the people they give money to get re-elected so when their projects and issues come before them they vote their way," said Bob Fulkerson, state director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, an umbrella group of agencies pushing campaign reform.

"That these special interests in gaming and developers are buying access, it totally subverts the concept of one person, one vote this country was founded on," Fulkerson said. "Putting it bluntly, it's a system of organized bribery."

But politicians see it as a political necessity -- courting the big money from gaming and development to get their message across to the voters.

"It takes an obscene amount of money, but if you want to get your message out and do television and mailings you need to raise money," Williams said, noting it costs $13,000 just for postage to mail fliers to everyone in her District E seat.

"If we can find a way to get the message across without having to do that I'm for that," said Williams, a Democrat. "I don't think anybody likes to fund-raise."

Hunt, who has held several fund-raisers that netted $232,099, said fund-raising is "probably the most distasteful part of having to be an elected official."

While the word on the street is that Hunt will make a bid for the Republican candidacy for lieutenant governor, she said she has been telling people she's raising money for her re-election to her District G County Commission seat.

"Were I to do otherwise I would have to disclose that and give people an opportunity to have their money returned to them," Hunt said.

At least 51 percent, or $119,100 of Hunt's money, came from gaming. Another 24 percent, or $57,000, came from developers.

Williams has the second highest amount so far, with $217,350. The bulk of her campaign chest, $155,500 or 71.5 percent, came from a single fund-raiser at gaming attorney Frank Schreck's home in September. Hunt got most of her gaming money at the same fund-raiser.

Developers account for another $36,000, or 16.5 percent, of Williams' money to date.

Kenny, running for re-election to the District F seat, has raised $157,179 from at least two fund-raisers -- one held by developer Randy Black and another by lobbyist John Pappageorge. By the standards of Hunt and Williams, Kenny's share from gaming is a meager 28 percent, or $44,250. Conversely, her take from developers accounts for 48 percent, or $75,000, of her campaign finances.

Williams said the high intake of gaming money "doesn't mean anything" because she has not held any other fund-raisers.

"It is our major industry," Hunt said.

The early campaign finance filings are the result of legislation pushed by PLAN in the 1997 Legislature and supported by Secretary of State Dean Heller. The new law requires all candidates who raise over $10,000 to file a report by Dec. 31 and for all candidates to identify contributions over $100.

The early finance report "gives the public a chance to see again the extent of the influence of money in our democracy," Fulkerson said.

Hunt and Williams said they support the new disclosure laws, even if it means letting voters see months in advance where the early money is coming from.

"I have nothing to hide," Williams said. "I gave money back to a gamer who tried to tell me how to vote."

Williams returned $12,500 from Sands owner Sheldon Adelson last spring.

"The legislature did a good thing in letting people know," Hunt said. "The people need to know what's being collected."

However, Williams had one criticism to offer. The reporting period -- from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 -- was not inclusive enough.

"The party where I collected my most money was in September," Williams said. "I didn't think it would be fair not to report that."