Guinn total exceeds $5 million

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1998 | 11:55 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Kenny Guinn, campaigning for two years to be governor, has collected more than $5 million in contributions, the highest amount ever for a statewide office.

Guinn, the GOP candidate, reported Tuesday he has received $5.3 million and has spent $5.1 million in his quest to be governor. The report shows Guinn put $450,000 of his own money into the campaign in early September.

Gov. Bob Miller, in 1994, raised $3.2 million in his re-election campaign.

The campaign report of Jan Jones, Guinn's Democratic opponent, had not arrived in the secretary of state's Office Tuesday, the deadline for submitting them. But as long as they are in the mail with a postmark of Tuesday, they are considered filed on time.

From Aug. 20 to Oct. 21, Guinn reported he has raised $1.4 million and spent $2.1 million as the campaign winds down. There were 42 donors who gave the maximum $10,000.

He received $10,000 each from Becky Binion Behnen, Benny Behnen and Nicholas Behnen of the Las Vegas gambling family. Hotel-casinos in Atlantic City -- the Hilton and Bally's Park Place -- contributed the maximum. So did Prime Cable of Las Vegas, KVBC-TV of Las Vegas and KRNV-TV of Reno.

Other major donors included Dr. Elias Ghanem, who heads the state Athletic Commission; Boyd Travel of Honolulu; Bullhead Laughlin; Hilton Hotels Corp., Rivera Gaming, Sig Rogich, John Moran Jr., and Pat Clark Pontiac, all of Las Vegas.

The biggest money mismatch in the general election pits Clark County District Judge Myron Leavitt against Mike Powell, a Carson City lawyer. They are seeking election to the Nevada Supreme court. Leavitt reported raising $266,301 and spending $244,269. Powell said he received $21,599 in contributions and shelled out $16,548 on the campaign.

The three women running unopposed for the Supreme Court raised considerable sums. Justice Miriam Shearing, who will win a second term, reported collecting $160,430 and spending $81,143. District Judge Nancy Becker of Las Vegas received $158,096 in campaign contributions and spent $98,179. District Judge Deborah Agosti of Reno spent $96,854 after receiving $166,354.

Secretary of State Dean Heller, who has only token opposition for a second term, reported collecting $64,026 and spending $11,779. Brian Krolicki, the GOP candidate for treasurer who faces only candidates from splinter parties, raised $152,374 and spent $135,570.

Mary Sanada, the Democratic candidate for state controller raised $78,506 and spent $78,377.