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Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Assemblyman John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas
Sun Coverage
Sun Archives
- 2010 shaping up as election year to watch (6-11-2009)
- Assembly speaker post up for grabs in 2011 (5-3-2009)
Beyond the Sun
The tough economy hasn’t prevented at least one elected official from throwing elaborate fundraisers. Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera has recently hosted campaign contributors in a box at a San Francisco 49ers game (suggested donation: $5,000) and at a wine tasting and dinner at a Napa Valley vineyard ($1,000), setting a new bar for unconventional campaign events hosted by Nevada lawmakers.
The two October gatherings raised eyebrows among some observers, who cited in particular the choice to host events outside the state at a time when Nevada’s economy is suffering.
“The goal for a political fundraiser is to raise money, not to provide entertainment,” said Fred Lokken, a professor at Truckee Meadows Community College. “This just opens the door to a whole host of questions. I don’t see anything good that comes from this.”
Oceguera makes no apologies for the events. In an e-mail, he said he has hosted a variety of campaign gatherings, including some in Nevada that are more accessible to grass-roots activists.
“Campaigns are much more competitive now, and we all have become more innovative,” he wrote.
Fundraising is often the dark underbelly of political life, carrying a stigma even when it’s carried out within the bounds of the law. More than one politician has retired because of the tedium of begging donors to pony up.
Oceguera, who is in line to become the next Assembly speaker, is known as a prodigious fundraiser. And he’s not alone in working outside Nevada.
Other Nevada candidates have hosted fundraisers in New York and California, where many companies doing business in Nevada have headquarters.
Clark County Commissioner Rory Reid, for example, has raised money for his run for governor at out-of-state events with former President Bill Clinton.
But such events are usually held by candidates for statewide or federal office. It’s rare for an assemblyman, even one in a leadership position, to host an out-of-state event, observers said.
Additionally, Oceguera’s recent events defy the convention of holding fundraisers at restaurants or banquet halls. Events he’s held in past years include fundraisers at Blush nightclub at the Wynn, at Red Rock Resort and at the Palms. (The last two events broke an established Democratic practice of avoiding nonunion casinos.)
Oceguera’s advisers say his California events reflect the difficulty candidates are having raising money. Almost all of the state’s largest donors are having a tough time, and fundraisers report that campaign wallets are correspondingly tight.
The political parties, meanwhile, have an unusually large number of seats in play because of term limits that will take effect in 2010. Democrats will lose 10 incumbents, and another five or six seats are competitive in most election cycles, Assembly Democrats say.
Steve Redlinger, a fundraising consultant to Oceguera and the Assembly Democratic caucus, pointed to the major issues — particularly the state budget — that the Legislature will confront next session. For that reason, it’s important to Oceguera that a Democratic majority be retained.
“Candidates are going to have to be creative, think outside the box, in these troubled times to raise the money necessary,” Redlinger said.
The trip to Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap Wine Cellar was held Oct. 29. His campaign also offered tickets to the 49ers game on Nov. 8, with seats in a private box. Redlinger, in an e-mail obtained by the Sun, requested contributions of $5,000.
In an interview, Redlinger said both events were paid for by private contributors, though he declined to name them. That information will be reported in January, when elected officials are required to disclose their fundraising for the previous year.
Typically, fundraisers are paid for either by the campaign or by a host who donates the food and room space as an in-kind contribution.
Redlinger said, “We don’t view there to be a difference between these events and an event at a ballroom at a hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard, in-kinded by MGM Mirage.”
Oceguera said that at the more traditional event there is less time to interact with donors. “It’s a question of time available. At an event with 100 people, I try to greet everyone and thank them personally within a two-hour period. If I have an event with 10 people for an hour, it stands to reason they will have more time to talk with me.”
Still, some political insiders said corporations are unlikely to donate more to a candidate because of an unusual setting or increased face time. One lobbyist, speaking on the condition of anonymity to preserve relationships with Oceguera, said companies set budgets for fundraising, and fancy events won’t change those budgets.
Some lobbyists who attended Oceguera’s events said they did provide more time with the candidate in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Usually, said Tom Clark, a lobbyist for the firm Holland & Hart, “you have five minutes with a legislator, eat rubber chicken and go home after half an hour.”
Clark, who attended an Oceguera fundraiser at a recent Reno Aces minor league baseball game, said, “We’re in a down economy, yet candidates still have to raise a tremendous amount of money. I think doing nontraditional types of events will become more popular.”
That's what our government has come down to......bribes to get elected. And campaign contributions are bribes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMKlMrwc6...
We need to vote out all of these corrupt politicians and not solicit big businesses that contribute to them.
What is with the greasy hair?
Pretty offensive. Both the hair and the fundraiser.
And I vote for as many democrats as republicans.
He is a NLV fire chief, goes back to the Erin Kenny era. Very sleazy!
At least the LV Sun is reporting on this. How does this kind of event reflect our economy or our constituents. If the limit is $10,000 per company, the box at the game certainly cost more than that.
I hope there is some serious follow about all of these events come January. Some of these politicians have absolutely no shame.
Mr. Oceguera is a North Las Vegas fire captain if my memory is correct. Yes, another government employee. He is also my elected representative and I'll be doing what I can to retire him back to full time fire fighting. He is an embarrassment to my district and to Nevada.
After a decade of corporate corruption, it would be nice to see government taking action against someone -- saw a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth
All of you are ignorant. You don't want those who can self finance-- God forbid the Elitist run the state- but you criticize John for being successful and creative?
John came from humble beginnings and is a good elected official. Anyone who knows him can clearly see how he thinks outside of the box...even in his fundraising efforts.
John has the guts to provide the True Leadership that Barbara Buckley didn't have the backbone for.
The presumptive Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly is bought and paid for by the Nevada Trial Lawyers! Look at what he did directly to the construction industry during the last session. The Senate weighed in on Construction Defects to fix an issue that was killing an industry and would protect homeowners at the same time. The frivolous items of the Chapter 40 process would have stopped. Look at the protection Ocegura gave to this cottage industry he set up for his good friend CD Trial Attorney Scott Canepa. It's all about the money $$$. It was never about a fix! The Nevada State Senate voted 19-1 for this bill!
Look to see who threw these big flings for him in Cali. His best friends name will be all over it! He cannot raise money in Nevada because all of us folks here are all broke! John does not want homes fixed, nor does he care about the working folks who live in Nevada and contribute to our economy. He cares for the few that take good care of him". and raise him the big money so can deal for them in Carson City.
North Las Vegas Fire Captain who takes off four months from work to do us all a favor to be in Carson City.
John you should forward all you campaign funds back into the state budget to assist in the short falls you helped create!
Just follow the money! Who in the world can afford $5000 per seat in a box. Who would want to piss that kind of money away. Those who bought and paid for you thats who!!! The Sun needs to do the follow up on who the donor is of the box and who attend it when Mr. Ocegurea has to disclose it in January. Sure it will be some Corporation owned by a Trial Attorney. Just look up the Corporate Charter of who owns the company. Nevada get a clue get rid of this guy and all like him. His term is up in 2011 lets send him packing prior.
Those who contribute these big bucks expect to reap the benefits of a friend in politics. You scratch my back I'll scratch yours. Can anyone tell me one, just one politican who is not corrupt. The American citizens have no faith in any of their elected officials. How sad to say but to be in politics is to be crooked.
PNC Bank robbed me out of $56. That's a bank that needs to be investigated. PNC issues debit cards and then charges $25 and $7 per day for an overdraft. Funny how it takes a week to notify you! Absolutely criminal!