House candidates raising money, endorsements

Erin Neff

Thursday, Dec. 13, 2001 | 8:55 a.m.

Both major candidates for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District are claiming small victories this week.

Democrat Dario Herrera raked in more than $100,000 at a fund-raiser Tuesday night hosted by the Molasky family at Park Towers.

Former Sen. Richard Bryan, former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones and Clark County Commission candidate Rory Reid were some of the Democrats who attended. District Attorney candidate David Roger and consultant Mark Brown were some of the Republicans who attended.

Herrera, chairman of the Clark County Commission, estimates that Tuesday's event will help him surpass the $750,000 fund-raising mark by the end of the year.

Republican candidate Jon Porter got some bragging rights of his own Wednesday when the National Federation of Independent Business announced its political action arm was endorsing him.

Matthew Garth, regional political director for the small-business advocacy group, called the race one of the top House races in the nation.

In a press release announcing the endorsement, Garth said the pro-small business majority in Congress is narrow, making Nevada's 3rd Congressional District vital.

"We will throw every resource our national organization has behind him in order to get him elected," Garth said of Porter.

Meanwhile, Independent candidate Pete O'Neil said he has been spending the time going door-to-door trying to court the estimated 14 percent of voters in the district who are Independent.