Columnist Jeff German: OPAC’s first benefit, Amodei’s connections and the RJC.

Friday, Oct. 28, 2005 | 7:21 a.m.

Jeff German's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays in the Sun. Reach him at german@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4067.

Let the fund-raising begin.

OPAC, that "slush fund" -- I mean political action committee -- that Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman created to supposedly hype the city, is about to have it's first big fundraising event.

Invitations were sent out this week for a one-hour cocktail reception Nov. 8 at downtown's newest hotspot, the Triple George Grill.

The cost of attending the reception, according to the invitation, is a little steep -- $5,000.

Political consultant Billy Rogers, who is working for OPAC, says the $5,000 is for those who want to be listed on the host committee.

Everyone else, he says, will be asked to donate a mere $1,000.

Rogers was tight-lipped when pressed for details about the event and how much the mayor and company hoped to raise.

He was equally vague on how Goodman plans to spend the money, other than to say it will go to "promote and protect the interests of Las Vegas."

Or should we say to promote and protect the interests of Goodman?

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Sen. Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, wasn't a pillar of ethical cleanliness in the waning days of the Legislature.

He jeopardized his political integrity to help neighborhood gaming giants Station Casinos and Boyd Gaming push through a bill that essentially would have preserved their dominance in the market and made it more difficult for residents to fight future casino projects.

Even though his law partner, Mark Fiorentino, openly lobbied for Assembly Bill 485 on behalf of Boyd Gaming, Amodei guided the measure out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he happened to chair, and later became the pivotal vote that kept the measure alive on the floor of the Senate.

AB485 died in the final hours of the session after it received strong opposition from the Culinary Union, which is locked in a bitter organizing battle with Station Casinos.

Amodei, however, may have found some high-powered political friends for life.

Two weeks ago the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman held a $1,000-a-head fundraiser in Las Vegas for his re-election.

Among the prominent hosts listed on the invitation was none other than Station Casinos President Lorenzo Fertitta.

Also on the host list was Pete Ernaut who, along with his partner, political kingmaker Billy Vassiliadis, were gaming's lead lobbyists on AB485.

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They're still grappling with glitches at the Regional Justice Center.

But with all of the problems with the phones, elevators, restrooms and even the security system on occasion, you'll never guess what has angered people the most.

There aren't any vending machines.

Poor communication, I'm told, between the county and the little-known Nevada Bureau of Services to the Blind & Visually Impaired, which has the contract to run the vending machines, has slowed the installation process.

Fixing this problem has become a top priority for Chuck Short, the county's court executive, who has been getting an earful from members of the public.

We all know that going to court isn't exactly a pleasurable experience.

But it turns out that going to court hungry and thirsty is even worse.