Guinn taps into LV casinos, cab companies for donations

Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2002 | 9:26 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn tapped heavily into Las Vegas casinos and cab companies to raise $1.78 million in contributions for his upcoming campaign.

Just $700 came in contributions of less than $100. Of the 545 donations, 398 came from Clark County, where he has spent most of the past two months.

Tennis star Andre Agassi contributed $5,000. So did Enron Corp., the giant energy company that is now in bankruptcy.

Mandalay Bay Resort and the Fiesta each gave $20,000. An apparent group of associated companies all with the same address in Las Vegas -- Republic Environmental Technology, Republic Disposal Urban Maintenance Processing and Republic Services -- chipped in $19,800.

More than 30 casinos from downtown Las Vegas, the Strip, Henderson, Jean and Laughlin each donated $10,000. Traditionally the gaming industry is the biggest cash cow for election campaigns.

Besides Enron, other big energy companies that donated to Guinn included Duke Energy at $5,000 and Reliant Energy for $9,500

The list of $10,000 contributors included numerous individuals from Clark County, such as Robert Arum, Jack Cason, Patrick Cason, Stephen Cloobeck, Vrushali Daulat, Fred Gibson, Monte Miller, Edward Quirk and Faye Spanos.

Guinn reported that as of the end of last year he had $1.4 million left of the $1.78 million he collected.

So far, no prominent Democrat has announced a challenge.

Tuesday was the deadline for filing the reports by candidates who collected more than $10,000 in campaign contributions last year. Elective officials were also required to report what they did with the money they collected from their last campaign.

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt reported receiving $40,972 in 2001 and spending $29,650. Among her largest campaign contributions were Battista's at $5,000 and J.H. Tiberti Construction Co., of Las Vegas at $4,000.

Tiberti also contributed $10,000 to the Guinn campaign.

Treasurer Brian Krolicki took in $158,284, with $119,377 remaining. Among his major contributors were Barrick Goldstrike Mines in Elko, Newmont Mines in Carlin, IGT of Reno and Walker Investment Co. of Reno.

Brian Sandoval, the GOP candidate for attorney general to succeed retiring Frankie Sue Del Papa, reported contributions of $247,467. He had $207,983 of that left as of the end of the year.

Controller Kathy Augustine reported $7,795 in cash donations last year and has a balance of $3,166. Her biggest contributor was Tiberti Construction at $3,000.

State Assemblyman John Lee, D-Las Vegas, reported raising $13,000 for a bid against Augustine, with the largest contribution of $10,000 coming from U.S. Sen. Harry Reid's political action committee, the Searchlight Leadership Fund.

Secretary of State Dean Heller did not file a report because he has received less than $10,000 last year.