Goodman applies for political action committee to promote Las Vegas

Dan Kulin

Tuesday, March 22, 2005 | 9:41 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman filed the paperwork Monday to create a political action committee called OPAC, which the mayor said will be used solely to promote the city and not any candidates for elected office.

Goodman is the resident agent for OPAC, and City Councilman Michael Mack is its executive director, according to the registration paperwork filed with the Secretary of State's Office on Monday.

The registration paperwork says the purpose of OPAC is "promoting the interests of Las Vegas."

As he said about two weeks ago when talking about how he was looking into establishing such a political action committee, Goodman said OPAC would be used to pay for his trips to other cities to promote Las Vegas in general, his efforts to attract a Major League Baseball team to the city, and possibly even to fight against the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump.

"Maybe I could give it the knockout punch it deserves," Goodman said about a possible campaign against Yucca Mountain.

"And the best thing is that the taxpayers wouldn't have to foot the bill," he said.

Goodman said he will make all the decisions regarding the operation of OPAC.

"I'm going to sign all the checks. I'm the captain of this ship," he said.

When discussing about two weeks ago the possibility of creating OPAC, short for Oscar's political action committee, Goodman said the fund might eventually be used to support political candidates. But on Monday the mayor said that option has been ruled out, except perhaps in his case.

"If there was ever a time when I was running for office again I guess I could go to these people and ask for a donation," Goodman said.

The mayor has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor in 2006, which hasn't been ruled out, although he has never said he intends to run for governor.

Although there are no limits on donations to a political action committee, political action committees are limited as anyone else is on how much they can contribute to candidates: $5,000 per election. Primary and general elections are considered separate elections.

Goodman said he doesn't expect OPAC to have a paid staff, but Mack said they still have to discuss that.

Mack, who is not seeking re-election to the council this spring, said he would wait until he is out of office to start his work with OPAC.

"We're excited about the mission set forth by the mayor," Mack said.

Mack said he brought Southwest Strategies, the political campaign management company headed by Billy Rogers, in to help OPAC raise funds.

Goodman said he could have decided to instead create a nonprofit corporation to accomplish the same goal OPAC will.

Rogers said having a political action committee means the organization will have to report its expenses and the donations it receives at least once a year.

"Having a PAC means it will be transparent," Rogers said.