Disclosure forms for municipal candidates reveal little

Tuesday, March 16, 1999 | 10:43 a.m.

Candidates for Las Vegas mayor and other municipal seats throughout Clark County made financial disclosures Monday, but state law didn't force them to go into much detail.

The forms filed with the city clerks and the state Ethics Commission had to be postmarked by Monday in order for candidates in the upcoming May 4 primary election to avoid fines. The race to succeed outgoing Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones included the following disclosures:

* Councilman Arnie Adamsen listed interest in CAMP Inc., doing business as Adecco Personnel, which provides temporary employees; AF Properties; and Equi-Cosmos, which supplies construction materials. He also derives income as a councilman and from Stewart Title of Nevada, as well as from rental property. His affiliations include the Las Vegas Sister Cities Association, Republic of Philippines Las Vegas Tourism Advisory Council, Asia Center of Nevada, National League of Cities, Foundation for Las Vegas Business Development and Las Vegas International Youth Exchange.

* Mark Fine, a developer, listed income from Mark L. Fine & Associates, the Fortress Group, and from investments. He and his wife also own a vacation home in Laguna Beach, Calif. His affiliations also include the UNLV Foundation, NECA, Nevada First Bank, Class Magazine and Tournament Hills, Calif.

* Oscar Goodman listed his law practice as his source of income. He also provided an extensive list of real estate holdings, including 12 separate parcels of unimproved land, vacant homes on two lots, four commercial buildings and a condominium in Coronado, Calif.

* Frank LaSpina listed sources of income from a radio show and investments, and also owns a second home. He is affiliated with the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center.

* Cruz Olague, a former Henderson mayor, disclosed that his wife, Dorothy, a fashion coordinator, has a city business license.

* Douglas Opolka, who currently isn't working, indicated that his wife, Linda, derives income from Lasting Impression.

* Anthony Snowden filed a statement but listed no financial information.

Statements from fellow mayoral candidates Tom McGowan and Hillary Michael Milko were not available as of Monday.

Most of the information required by the state for municipal candidates is vague compared to the requirements for federal office seekers. Members of Congress must list individual assets by a range of value, such as $1,001 to $15,000. It is possible to calculate a congressman's net worth within a broad range of numbers based on the information they must provide.

Municipal candidates must simply list sources of their income, as well as debts (other than mortgages and automobile payments) of at least $5,000, locations and use of any real estate that isn't their primary residence and their connection to any business entity.

The only items they have to specify by value are gifts worth at least $200 received during the previous taxable year but not including gifts from a relative or for special occasions such as a birthday or anniversary. The disclosure statement gives no hint as to a candidate's net worth.

Other Las Vegas candidates who filed financial disclosure statements were Ward 1 council hopefuls Chris Christoff, Linda Gray, Paul Holder, incumbent Michael McDonald and Steve Miller. Harvey Munford was the only Ward 1 candidate whose statement wasn't available as of Monday.

Ward 3 candidates who filed were Charles "Doc" Broadus, Lionel Fleming, Carlo Poliak, incumbent Gary Reese, Bradley Smith and Nevada Stupak.

Henderson candidates who filed statements were Lloyd Bair, James Carlson Jr., Matthew Dushoff and incumbent John Provost for municipal judge, incumbent Amanda Cyphers, Debra Ann Lemancik-Grant, Frederick Pratt and Elizabeth Trosper for council Ward 1, Ann Barron, William Brandt and incumbent Andy Hafen for council Ward 2, and Steven Kirk and Guy Van Wyck for council Ward 4.

Boulder City residents who filed included Mayor Robert Ferraro and opponents Robert Kenneston and William Smith. The competitors for two council seats who filed were Joe Hardy, Tim Harness, James LaBarber, Ned Morang, Melodee Thurston and Tom Whelan. The statement from incumbent Bryan Nix wasn't available as of Monday.

In North Las Vegas, where two council seats also are up for grabs, statements were available Monday from only five of the 13 candidates. The five included incumbents Paula Brown and William Robinson, as well as Shari Buck, Linda Hinson and Stan Vaughan.