$8 million high cost for regent’s post

Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999 | 11:38 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- For seven months, Steve Sisolak was an $8 million man.

In March, the secretary of state's office published a breakdown of the money collected by state political candidates. It listed Sisolak of Las Vegas as collecting $8 million in his race for a seat on the Board of Regents of the University and Community College system of Nevada.

That's more than Gov. Kenny Guinn and his opponent, former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones, received combined.

But it wasn't until this month that the error was discovered. Eagle-eyed Leola Armstrong, former director of Common Cause in Nevada and who now lives in the state of Washington, questioned the $8 million figure.

"I wish I had raised that much," Sisolak said Tuesday. "I'm looking in my pocket right now, and all I have is a little spare change. If I'd have raised that much, hopefully I'd have a little more in my pocket.

"I had a lot of supporters in the election, but not that many."

A check of the records showed Sisolak collected $173,000 and spent about $168,000 in his campaign.

Pamela Crowell, deputy secretary of state for elections, said the $8 million was a typo that would be corrected.