Guinn reports 2000 fund-raising

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001 | 11:36 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn collected $236,000 in campaign contributions in the 2000 off-political year with major contributions coming from gaming, mining and medical sources.

The governor filed his campaign contribution and expense report Tuesday with the secretary of state's office, showing he spent $94,091. The governor repaid himself $65,000, which he had loaned to his campaign in his race for governor in 1998.

Peter Ernaut, former chief of staff and a close associate of Guinn's, said this was the last installment of the money the governor personally loaned to the campaign.

"It's not unusual for a sitting governor to raise $200,000 in an off-election year," Ernaut said. It costs a governor anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000 a year that must come out of his own pocket.

The biggest individual contributions of $10,000 each came from Kompac State Victory Fund in Washington, D.C., Purchasepro.com in Las Vegas and Las Vegas physician Dr. Raj Chanderraj, whose wife Radha was appointed to the Nevada Gaming Commission by Guinn.

Ernaut said he did not know who Kompact or Purchasepro.com represented.

Guinn received $5,000 contributions from American Pacific Corp., Kaufman & Broad, Gastroenterology Center of Nevada and Pulmonary Associates, all of Las Vegas. Other $5,000 donations came from Clark and Sullivan Constructors Inc. Club Cal Neva, Franco Nevada Mining Corp, IGT, Scolari's Food and Drug, Sierra Pacific Power and the Silver Legacy, all of Reno.

The report said $5,000 contributions were made by Cortez Gold Mines, Enron Corp. and Reliable Energy Production.

It showed Guinn paid $10,331 to R. Mercer Consulting of Las Vegas. Ernaut said that is a fund-raising consultant.

Scott Scherer, also a former chief of staff for Guinn, reported collecting $35,457 in campaign contributions. He ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 1998. Of the total he repaid himself $30,000, which he loaned to the campaign.

He received a $5,000 contribution from Hale, Lane, Peek, Dennis, Howard, a Reno law firm; and $2,500 each from Republic Services of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas and Barrick Goldstrike Mine. Enron, one of the major energy companies in the nation, gave him $750.

Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa reported she started 2000 with $33,515 in unspent campaign money but did not collect any funds during the year. She said she spent $6,168 on expenses relating to the office and $10,147 in political party expenses.

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt had $5,493 at the start of 2000 but spent $1,726 for expenses related to her office and made $2,471 in political contributions.