Political notebook: Kenny covers, while Hunt on defensive

Erin Neff

Friday, Sept. 20, 2002 | 9:17 a.m.

Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny wasn't a part of two press conferences this week, but she certainly felt that both events would help her campaign for lieutenant governor.

On Thursday, the Nevada AFL-CIO railed on incumbent Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt's statement that she would support a proposal once floated by state Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, to use money from the Public Employees Retirement System to lure venture capital to invest in Nevada.

Townsend, who is a consultant for a business trying to do just that, dropped his proposal after criticism from Secretary of State Dean Heller.

Hunt attended the press conference outside the state office building downtown, but later said her statement of support for Townsend's plan was "misinterpreted."

"I have never advocated for the investment of the PERS money outside the discretion of the PERS board," Hunt said. "What I have said is that if a Nevada company qualifies, can the company that invests the PERS fund consider the Nevada company for investment opportunity."

Hunt was also questioned Wednesday in a press conference convened by veterans on American flag etiquette for what they said was not properly respecting Old Glory on her signs and brochures.

"Maybe we were looking at it in the mirror," Hunt said when asked about her reversed flag. "To me the most important thing is patriotism and having the spirit of America."

Kenny wasn't involved in either event, but she's been getting plenty of PR from the paid-for cover of Nevada Woman magazine.

"Against All Odds: One Woman's Political Journey" is the headline of the piece written by Karen Williams and "sponsored by the Committee to Elect Erin Kenny, Lt. Governor."

The "article" hypes Kenny as a "coquettish blonde" with "dogged determination" and profiles everything Kenny wants known. There are also five photos (not including the campaign shot on the cover) and no mention of Hunt.

Nevada Woman Publisher Paige Fleming did not respond to e-mail and phone requests for comment. She was traveling to a publishers conference in Canada.

Kenny's campaign said it has already paid the magazine $5,000 toward to the $15,000 cover cost.

"I should ask for equal time, but if she paid for it, I wouldn't know how to ask her for that," Hunt said.

In other news from the race, Kenny on Thursday issued a statement decrying the State Public Work Board's decision to delay construction of a science and engineering complex at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The state delayed the project for at least two years. Kenny, who said the project is key to strengthening higher education and Nevada's ability to attract business, pledged to lead private sector fund-raising for the $25.5 million project.

Hunt said that while she is disappointed in the decision, she will continue to work on a $17 million science building being built on the Community College of Southern Nevada's West Charleston campus.

Billboards haunt Herrera

Still smarting from a campaign television ad, County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera dutifully abstained from billboard items before him Wednesday.

Herrera cited his wife, Emily's, work obtaining permits for billboard companies.

But his failure to abstain on a Dec. 5 vote setting standards for the billboard industry -- standards critics say were written by the industry -- drew him an ethics complaint and the ad from congressional opponent Jon Porter.

A closer review of Herrera's campaign contributions show he's also drawn $13,000 in funds from the industry and its lobbyists.

Herrera received $3,000 on separate donations from David Harris of Seiler Inc. in the spring of 2001. He also got $1,000 from Chris Kaempfer of the law firm Kaempfer, Kummer, Bonner and Renshaw that spring.

After the controversial 4-3 vote on Dec. 5, more money came in.

Mark Fiorentino and Robert Gronauer of KKBR gave $500 each on Dec. 17, the same day Herrera received $500 from Kenneth Klein of the Outdoor Advertising Association of America; $2,000 from Hal Lasley of Seiler and $4,000 total from Kevin Reilly and Sean Reilly of Lamar Corp. and Lamar Corp.'s political action committee.

Clear Channel's PAC gave Herrera $500 in January and Kaempfer added another $1,000 in March. Herrera got another $1,000 from KKBR representatives, $1,000 from Lamar's Sacha Prickett and another $2,000 from Lamar's PAC last month.

Herrera notes the ethics complaint against him was dismissed without a hearing and that he has abstained from every billboard issue since the original controversy.

For the record