Few legislators contribute to Yucca fight fund

Monday, June 24, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Legislature gave $7 million in taxpayer funds to a public relations and legal fight against a proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain, but few lawmakers dipped into their own pockets to contribute.

Only six of Nevada's 63 state legislators donated personal money to the drive that raised $1.9 million after Gov. Kenny Guinn issued the public call for help in April.

A list compiled by Nevada's Office on Nuclear Projects shows more than 1,500 people or companies donated, with about 1,000 coming from Clark County, where 66 percent of the state's population lives.

All of the main state elected officials, except members of the Nevada Supreme Court, chipped in. But only three state senators and three Assembly members gave personal donations.

Guinn, Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev. and John Ensign, R-Nev., and Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., all gave $1,000. Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev. donated $200.

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt gave $100, as did Secretary of State Dean Heller and Controller Kathy Augustine. Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa donated $100 personally and gave $250 from her campaign fund. State Treasurer Brian Krolicki gave $50.

Among legislators, Sen. Jon Porter, R-Boulder City, donated $500 personally and $1,000 from his campaign fund for his run for Congress. Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, contributed $100 and added $250 from her campaign fund. Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, chipped in $100.

In the Assembly, Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, contributed $100; Dawn Gibbons, R-Reno, gave $777 out of her campaign coffers and Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, gave $50.

Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny, a candidate for lieutenant governor, gave $500. Commissioner Dario Herrera, a candidate for Congress, donated $250. Commissioner Myrna Williams gave $200 from her campaign committee. And the Clark County Democratic Party sent in $338.

The list showed Stephens Media Group, which operates the Las Vegas Review-Journal, gave $3,227. Las Vegas Sun Publisher Barbara Greenspun donated $1,000.

Both candidates for attorney general contributed. Republican Brian Sandoval and Democrat John Hunt each gave $500.

Some former office holders also made contributions. Former Gov. Mike O'Callaghan, now Las Vegas Sun executive editor and chairman, donated $250; former Congresswoman Barbara Vucanovich gave $100; Betty Sawyer, the widow of the late Gov. Grant Sawyer, and Sawyer's daughter Gail each contributed $1,000; and Richard Urey, former press secretary for Gov. Bob Miller, chipped in $50.

Some of the major individual contributors were Stephen Cloobeck of Las Vegas for $20,000; the Molasky family of Las Vegas -- Andrew, Steve and Alan -- who each chipped in $5,000; and Reno lobbyist-businessman Harvey Whittemore for $10,000.

The fund received $50,000 from Station Casinos; $3,000 from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce; $25,000 from High Rise JV LLC of Las Vegas; $10,000 from the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers in Las Vegas; $75,000 from the Lemelson Education and Assistance Program of Incline Village; and $25,000 from Marshall Management Co. of Las Vegas.

Among government donations were $2.5 million from Clark County; $150,000 from the city of Las Vegas; $20,000 from the city of Reno; $11,000 from Sparks; $10,000 from North Las Vegas; $50,000 from Mesquite; $7,500 from Fallon; $1,367 from Wells; and $1,000 each from Mineral County, Lovelock and Douglas County.

There were hundreds of contributions for $1, $5, $20 and even up to $1,000 from private citizens who heeded the Guinn's call.

There was a $48 donation on June 14 from "Mrs. Johnson's Class/Lemonade Sale" but no school name or address was indicated.