Sen. James atop list in raising funds

Larry Henry

Friday, Jan. 9, 1998 | 10:51 a.m.

Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, received more campaign money than any 1998 Southern Nevada legislative candidate through the end of last year.

James, who had been mentioned as a possible congressional candidate but is seeking re-election, raised $60,301 by Dec. 31, according to a report filed with the secretary of state's office.

Reports that were filed later than the Dec. 31 deadline or haven't arrived in Carson City could change James' status as the top fund raiser.

The casino industry, led by a $5,000 contribution from MGM Grand Inc., gave James $13,750, while developers and related companies contributed $7,665. The Howard Hughes Corp. gave $2,500.

James' casino contributions include $2,000 from gaming lobbyist Harvey Whittemore and $500 from Whittemore's law firm, Lionel, Sawyer and Collins.

Whittemore also represents R.J. Reynolds, one of the tobacco companies expected to fight any attempt during the 1999 session to prohibit smoking in casinos and bars.

During the 1997 session, James, who chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, was involved in some of the Legislature's most controversial issues.

James attempted to pass a law allowing prison officials to inject convicted sexual predators with a female birth-control substance to lower their sex drive. However, the so-called chemical castration bill died late in the session.

James' committee did approve two high-profile bills supported by the Nevada Resort Association.

One bill, which James sponsored, bans new casinos in neighborhoods near churches and homes but allows construction on the Strip and in the Summerlin master-planned communities, which are developed by the Howard Hughes Corp.

The other bill, which Whittemore spearheaded, gives casinos a $2.5 million annual tax break.

Both bills became law.

In 1994, James raised $250,000 in his re-election win over Democrat Paul Yates.

Among 1998 Southern Nevada Assembly candidates, Assemblywoman Sandra Tiffany, R-Henderson, leads in total contributions. By the end of 1997, she had raised more than $15,211.

Lindsey Jydstrup, executive director of the Democratic Legislative Caucus, said the party has not found candidates to run against James or Tiffany.

"We've been concentrating on other races," Jydstrup said.

Democrats can take control of the upper house by winning two Senate seats and not losing any of their own.

The Democratic Party hopes to unseat Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, and win the seat held by Sen. Kathy Augustine, R-Las Vegas. Augustine is running for state controller.

By Dec. 31, Washington had raised $13,150, while former Sparks Mayor Jim Spoo, his likely Democratic opponent, apparently had not collected the $10,000 required to file a report.