Democrats have big fund-raisers

Monday, April 26, 2004 | 10:53 a.m.

Spokesmen for a pair of Democrats who conducted fund-raisers a few miles apart on the same night last week estimate that more than $500,000 in cash and pledges were received.

Julie Whitacre, campaign aide for Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said between $350,000 and $400,000 in checks were collected Thursday during a fund-raiser attended by about 150 at Cili at the Bali Hai Golf Course.

But when the pledged money comes in, the total is expected to rise to about $500,000, Whitacre said.

Whitacre said the turnout for Perkins' event "was what we were hoping for."

Whitacre said that while $500,000 should be enough for an Assembly race, Perkins plans on raising more money to help fellow Democratic Assembly members to maintain the number of Democratic seats in the Assembly.

Perkins, who is considered a potential candidate for the 2006 governor's race, is running for re-election to the Assembly against Republican Steve Grierson.

On the same night that Perkins was raising money for his campaign, Assemblyman John Lee, D-Las Vegas, was collecting contributions at Las Vegas Country Club. Mark Benoit, coordinator of that $500-a-plate fund-raiser, said about 75 people attended and donated about $35,000, including about $20,000 in checks.

Benoit said another $15,000 in pledges are expected to come in from the event for Lee, who is running for the seat currently held by Sen. Ray Shaffer, R-North Las Vegas.