Council members have funds for future elections

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, May 30, 2001 | 10:07 a.m.

With the polls closed and their respective victories secured, the three Las Vegas City Council incumbents elected during the April primary were in no hurry to close the campaign coffers.

All have kept something in reserve should they choose to run again.

Council members Michael Mack, Lynette Boggs McDonald and Lawrence Weekly raised funds until the primary election, although contributions slowed after their victories, according to the second campaign finance report released Tuesday by the Las Vegas city clerk's office.

The second report shows fund-raising and expenditures from the days leading up to the April 3 election and thereafter -- March 23 through May 24.

Mack, who raised the most money during his first election bid, has the least left should he run for office in four years. Mack raised $499,206, and he has $5,300 remaining.

In the two-month reporting period, Mack raised an additional $77,228, putting him just shy of the $500,000 mark in regard to total contributions. Contributors continued to donate well into May. Republic Services of Southern Nevada, which gave Mack $9,900 during the first reporting period, provided an additional $9,900 before the election.

Mack, who defeated Louise Helton in April, spent much of his war chest on campaign consultants, staff and advertising. He also spent portions of his contributions on community service organizations, including a $600 scholarship for Camp Anytown and $12,500 for the Salvation Army.

Boggs McDonald, who defeated Mark Solomon in the primary, raised an additional $99,500 during the second reporting period, boosting her fund-raising totals to $471,315. After spending a majority of her funds on staff, advertising and campaign consultants, Boggs McDonald has $17,700 remaining. She spent some of her funds on community organizations, including a $2,500 contribution to the Salvation Army.

Weekly raised an additional $91,400 during the two-month period, bringing his fund-raising total to $341,500.

Among the contributors was tennis star Andre Agassi, who, through his foundation, gave Weekly $2,000. Agassi's foundation built a charter school in West Las Vegas, which is part Weekly's ward.

Weekly, who defeated Bob Nolen in April, spent little on campaign consultants, instead appropriating most of his money for advertising and staff. He has $14,458 should he decide to run again in two years.

City Councilman Larry Brown, the only candidate to win outright in February after no one challenged him for the seat, raised an additional $11,500, even after he was declared the winner. Brown raised $326,545 and has $151,580 left.

Brown spent some of the money on nonprofit groups, including Sun City Summerlin Charities, the Girl Scouts and the YMCA of Southern Nevada. He also used some of the money -- $4,100 -- to reimburse himself.