Gibbons gets FEC letter asking him to file candidacy

Suzanne Struglinski

Wednesday, July 23, 2003 | 10:10 a.m.

WASHINGTON-- The Federal Election Commission sent a letter to Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., last month saying he needs to declare candidacy for federal office by Thurdsay.

Gibbons is contemplating running against Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in 2004, and has said in the past he may make a decision in August.

But Gibbons spokeswoman Amy Spanbauer dismissed the letter, calling it just a regular letter and "nothing out of the ordinary." Spanbauer said the Gibbons campaign has notified the commission that he is running for re-election to his House seat and that he will decide later if he wishes to run for another elected office.

The letter, called a "letter of disavowal" says Gibbons needs to file candidacy papers by July 24 since he has more than $5,000 in campaign funds, but has not formally declared which office he seeks.

In his campaign financing report filed with the commission last week, Gibbons reported raising $127,797 during April, May and June. That gave him $515,321 cash on hand. Reid reported raising $1.2 million during the same period and now has $3.1 million on hand.

If Gibbons declares he is a candidate for the Senate, he does not have to resign from the House but he has to set up a campaign fund specifically for the Senate race, officials said.