Hunt: Nothing wrong with Vestin contribution

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002 | 9:31 a.m.

John Hunt, Democratic candidate for attorney general, denied any wrongdoing in a state inquiry over campaign contributions.

The statement was made Tuesday at a rally in front of Nevada Power Co. to announce Hunt's support for a not-for-profit public utility in Southern Nevada, the subject of ballot Question 14 in the Nov. 5 election.

Hunt's opponent, Republican Brian Sandoval, filed a complaint last week with Secretary of State Dean Heller's office about $160,000 Hunt received from Mike Shustek, owner of Vestin Mortgage, a company under investigation by the State Financial Institutions Division.

"I will be responding to the secretary of state ... and my response is that Brian Sandoval owes an apology to all good citizens who want to be involved in democracy and that there's been nothing untoward," Hunt said.

Asked whether he should apologize to the donors to Hunt's campaign with ties to Vestin Mortgage, Sandoval said no.

"I think the process is far from over," Sandoval said. "There's much investigation that needs to be done."

At his press conference, the Democratic candidate asked his opponent to join him in backing public power in the region.

"It's important for the public to know that we support putting the public back in public utility," he said.

He tied his support for public utilities to Energy Department estimates showing that residential customers pay 30 percent less with public power companies than with privately owned companies.

The attorney general's office may be important to the issue, he said, because the officeholder chooses the state's consumer advocate, who in turn would play a role in defining changes in the utility company.

"Public power provides the best service at the best price. That is what the consumers of Southern Nevada deserve, and I'll work to see that is what they get," Hunt said.

Sandoval said he has not yet determined whether a public purchase of Nevada Power is in the state's best interests.

"Any proposal offering the potential of rate relief needs a serious look," Sandoval said. "But I'm also concerned about the loss of Nevada Power's tax base and have a lot of questions about how the state can make up that difference."

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