Togliatti confident he can win despite cash disparity

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Feb. 4, 2000 | 11:12 a.m.

When campaign finance forms submitted last month revealed Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone had raised nearly $400,000, there were rumblings that the incumbent's most viable opponent would cower.

After all, Malone is seven lengths ahead of George Togliatti in the fund-raising race.

But on Thursday Togliatti said he has no immediate plans to surrender. Malone might win the race for money, but Togliatti is confident that if he can capture the attention of constituents in District C, he can gain their support.

"I was warned I was going to get pounded in the money department," said Togliatti, who has raised about $60,000. "Unfortunately the commission race has evolved into a situation where you need a lot of money to get the message out.

"I am not a politician, and I think that is a strength. But what you think you bring as a strength in office can make it more difficult to get into office."

Togliatti, a Democrat, said Malone's admission he went back on his word to residents in the Spring Valley area and voted in favor of a much-protested casino can only help his cause.

"I think his quote speaks for itself. Leave it at that," he said.

Togliatti recently took a community and government relations job with Harrah's hotel-casino partly to assist with his campaign. He has said all along that he does not feel comfortable spending other people's money on his bid for office.

While Togliatti is believed to be Malone's most threatening opponent, he is not the only candidate in the race. Civil rights activist Dr. James Tate said last month that he too will run against Malone.

Residents in the southwest and county officials also have confirmed that former Las Vegas Councilman Matthew Callister was approached and encouraged to run against Malone.

Callister is the cousin of Paul Christensen -- the commissioner Malone beat in 1996. During his tenure as councilman, he was also outspoken about neighborhood casinos and the manner in which the Las Vegas Beltway was being planned.

Callister on Thursday said he would not run but declined to comment further.

Clark County School Board member Lois Tarkanian's name also has been mentioned as a potential candidate. Tarkanian, the wife of former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, did not return phone messages Thursday.