Lieutenant governor candidate drops out

Kirsten Searer

Tuesday, May 3, 2005 | 11:04 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- He declared his candidacy three years before the 2006 election. Since then, he said he has raised about $650,000.

But Republican Steve Hill, one of the first candidates to jump into the race for lieutenant governor, announced this week he is dropping out for personal reasons. He sent letters to contributors saying he will refund all he was given.

"This is purely a personal reason," said Hill, the president of a concrete supply company. "It has nothing to do with the campaign. In fact, I felt very good about the way the campaign was going."

Under state law, Hill could donate the money to other campaigns. But Hill said he and his wife have paid for campaign expenses so far, and they will donate the interest accrued on his campaign funds to the Boys and Girls Clubs Statewide Alliance.

Hill leaves behind a competitive field, with both Treasurer and Republican Brian Krolicki and former Gaming Control Board member John Moran Jr., a Democrat, in the race. Former Lt. Gov. Lonnie Hammargren and state Controller Kathy Augustine have also indicated interest in the race.

"It was going to be competitive with me in and I'm sure it's going to be competitive with me not in it," Hill said.

Krolicki, who has won two statewide races for treasurer, said he thought Hill would have been a tough competitor.

"He did very well and I applaud him for that effort," Krolicki said. "That's why he'd be a very formidable opponent."