Mack defends ‘going-away’ party expense

Dan Kulin

Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006 | 9:20 a.m.

After announcing he would not run for re-election in December 2004, then-Las Vegas Councilman Michael Mack's campaign money machine rolled on -- accepting thousands of dollars in donations and picking up the tab for a $14,000 going-away party.

During 2005, Mack racked up $28,691 in contributions and spent $29,110 from his campaign account, leaving it drained by the time he left office in July. Money left over from the previous year covered the small gap between contributions and expenses.

"It was debt retirement and office expenses. Nothing out of the norm and nothing that's not allowed," Mack said.

Ellick Hsu, deputy secretary of state for elections, said politicians are allowed to continue raising and spending money, even if they are not running for re-election, so long as those transactions are related to their elected office or campaign and the expenditures are not for personal use.

Hsu would not comment on whether a going-away party for an outgoing city councilman was a proper expense.

Mack's expenses included numerous donations to charities, spending on office supplies, and paying people who helped with his campaign.

His campaign report also listed paying $5,000 to the popular Ghostbar and $9,115 to N-M Ventures, a corporation owned by the Ghostbar's owners, who also own the N9NE restaurant, both at the Palms.

Mack said both checks were to pay for the same event, which he said was a "going-away event."

The contributions came mostly from developers, although Mack and his consulting company chipped in $7,691 in loans, according to the report.

Mack said he did not actively raise funds during 2005, but "may have asked for some" of the donations he received.

As with other elected officials, some of Mack's money came from developers with business before the council. For example, in June he received $5,000 from the Montecito Cos. around the time that the council was voting on matters related to the company, for which Mack now does consulting work.

But Mack said donations never influenced his council actions.

"I never correlated donations to a vote," he said.

Mack was appointed to the council in January 2000 to take the newly created Ward 6 council seat. He was elected to a four-year term in 2001, but decided not to seek re-election last year. Steve Ross was elected to replace Mack.

Dan Kulin can be reached at 259-8826 or at dan@lasvegassun.com.