Candidates’ drive for funds continues

Wednesday, June 1, 2005 | 9:34 a.m.

Two-term North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon, facing a challenger who has the backing of the state Democratic Party, has raised more than $318,000 in the last 60 days, bringing his campaign total since 2002 to more than $670,000.

Since Jan. 1, Montandon has raised more than $470,000 and spent in excess of $317,000, according to campaign reports filed Tuesday with the North Las Vegas city clerk's office.

By contrast, challenger Andres Ramirez said he has raised $45,665 in the latest reporting period from March 25 to May 26, bringing his campaign total to $98,231 for the year.

Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson raised more than $600,000 for his easy re-election victory in April.

Ramirez did not file his report with the clerk's office on Tuesday but said he planned on mailing it instead to comply with state law. Ramirez was one day late in filing his report in March, resulting in a $25 penalty. The final report for the campaign is due July 15.

The Democratic Party, by state law, doesn't have to disclose its independent expenditures for the campaign until the end of the year, said party spokesman Jon Summers. He declined to give any estimates of how much it will be spend, but Ramirez previously said he wouldn't be surprised if the party spent $100,000 on his behalf.

In Boulder City, Councilman Mike Pacini raised nearly $10,200 between late March and late May, bringing his total for the year at more than $14,300. Councilwoman Andrea Anderson raised $6,426 in the latest reporting period to bring her campaign total to more than $14,600.

Challenger Jeremy Lilly is keeping pace with the incumbents by personal donations to his campaign. He has raised more than $1,900 since March, but has spent nearly $7,700.

In the race for the newly created Municipal Court judge in Henderson, Michael Miller, a judge pro tem, took in nearly $44,000 in contributions in the latest reporting period, well ahead of the $12,849 raised by former Henderson prosecutor Diana Hampton.

Hampton, who was the leading vote getter in the April primary, has raised nearly $32,000 for the campaign. Miller has raised just under $78,000.

In the race for a newly created Municipal Court bench in North Las Vegas, attorney Sean Hoeffgen raised nearly $51,000 since the primary to bring his campaign total to more than $82,800. Willia Chaney, the owner of a child care center, raised more than $32,600 to bring her campaign total in excess of $93,000.

In the race for City Council in North Las Vegas, incumbent Stephanie Smith raised more than $61,800 in the last two months to bring her total for the year in excess of $184,000.

Challenger Jean Withers received nearly $13,900 in contributions, almost all of it contributions from herself.