Ensign PAC gives $158,000 to Republican candidates, groups

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

U.S. Sen John Ensign is backing up his support for fellow Republicans by dumping $158,500 to Nevada candidates.

Ensign's Battle Born Political Action Committee raised $326,021 and spent $251,551 for the period ending Aug. 22, according to a report filed Tuesday with the Secretary of State's office.

Shortly before the special session of the Legislature to address medical malpractice insurance, Ensign's PAC sent a letter to Republican lawmakers and state legislative candidates asking them to sign a pledge supporting tort reform in order to be considered for future campaign contributions from the PAC.

Ensign made good on that promise this summer, dumping cash into state Assembly and Senate races, and picking sides in one Republican primary by going against incumbent Assemblywoman Merle Berman who did not sign the pledge. Berman's opponent in the District 2 race, Dr. Garn Mabey, got Ensign's $5,000.

The PAC gave $15,000 to the Nevada Republican Party, $10,000 to Nevada Republican Leadership and $5,000 to Republican Assembly Leadership.

Attorney General candidate Brian Sandoval, state Sen. Maurice Washington, Assembly candidates Luis Valera, Geny del Rosario, Jason Geddes and Pete Goicoechea each received the maximum $10,000 state limit for primary and general election contributions.

Ensign gave $5,000 each to Republican Senate candidates Bill Brady, Warren Hardy, Sandra Tiffany and Richard Bunker. He gave $7,000 to state Treasurer Brian Krolicki's re-election campaign and $5,000 to Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt's re-election campaign. The PAC gave Controller Kathy Augustine $2,000 and Gov. Kenny Guinn $1,000 for their re-election bids.

The remaining donations went to Assembly and District Court candidates.

Ensign's PAC is not alone in efforts to influence Nevada elections.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins' Leadership 2000 PAC gave $18,000 to local candidates, including $9,000 to John Hunt, the Democratic candidate for attorney general.

The AFL-CIO of Nevada's PAC gave $36,000 -- all to Democratic candidates. The Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters PAC spread money on both sides of the aisle, most notably with $10,000 to Guinn and $10,000 to John Hunt.