Candidates for Supreme Court report campaign contributions

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004 | 11:12 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Supreme Court Justice Michael Douglas has raised $174,792 in campaign contributions in his bid to retain his job in the upcoming election.

And Don Ashworth, probate commissioner in Clark County, has reported he collected $160,000 in his campaign to replace Justice Miriam Shearing, who is retiring from the Nevada Supreme Court.

Ashworth and Douglas' campaign finance disclosure reports were the first two received Tuesday at the secretary of state's office for Supreme Court races. The reports were due Tuesday.

Douglas, appointed to the Supreme Court to succeed the late Myron Leavitt, says he has spent $27,405 and has $175,783 left in his campaign fund.

Biggest contributors to Douglas were Las Vegas lawyer Laura Fitzsimmons and MGM- MIRAGE, who each donated $10,000. Douglas received $7,500 each from Nancy Ouon and Boyd Gaming.

Douglas also received $5,000 campaign contributions each from the Committee to Re-elect Judge Gates, the Crocket & Meyers law firm, Escondido Inc., Nevada Beverage Company, Windsock Holdings L.L.C., IGT, Mandalay Resort Group, Station Casinos, Coast Hotels & Casinos and Luxor. His major expense so far was $21,000 to Ayoub & Associates.

Ashworth said he has spent $144,377 so far in the campaign. He personally contributed $21,000 to his effort on the Supreme Court.

His biggest contribution came from Boyd Gaming at $7,500. He also received $5,000 donations from Jack Binion, Coast Hotels and Casino, Escondido, KVBC, Luxor, Mandalay Resorts Group, William Morse and Windsock Holdings L.L.C.

He has paid $10,000 to Steve Wark, $12,000 to Joyce & Associates and $25,000 to Image & Design.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, reported he had $204,629 to spend when the campaign started and he has received $303,820. He has spent $249,606 and has $259,768 remaining. Raggio is not expected to face a serious challenge to his re-election campaign, experts have said.