Boggs McDonald revises election report

Thursday, March 29, 2001 | 10:57 a.m.

Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald's revised campaign contribution report makes her the second-highest fund-raiser with $371,855.

Councilman Michael Mack raised $467,304 and Lawrence Weekly, $249,848.

Boggs McDonald has $22,470 left of the money heading into Tuesday's primary election.

Boggs McDonald submitted her original contribution form with the city clerk Tuesday but only reported totals raised this year. At the top of the form she noted that she had $80,427 left over from last year. She did not include it in the totals.

Boggs McDonald filed an amended version that includes all fund-raising activities from June 4, 1997, to present. She was appointed to the City Council in July 1998.

The city clerk's office has not yet received Ward 5 candidate Louise Helton's contribution report. The reports had to be postmarked by March 27.

Ted Jelen, chairman of UNLV's Political Science Department, said candidates in a City Council race often build massive war chests because there is such a low voter turnout and they have to use a variety of advertising outlets to get their names out.

"They have to raise all this money because that's what it costs to advertise," he said.

Jelen believes that because all candidates take part in fund-raising those with bigger totals don't necessarily carry a negative perception.

"Everybody has to do it," he said. "The only people who don't have to play this game are people who are self-financed."