Gibbons raises $182,647 in campaign contributions so far

By Cy Ryan (contact)

Wednesday, June 2, 2010 | 9:53 p.m.

Gov. Jim Gibbons

Brian Sandoval

CARSON CITY — Gov. Jim Gibbons has reported raising $182,647 in campaign contributions so far this year.

A report filed with the Secretary of State’s Office on Wednesday showed Gibbons received $178,924 in cash and $3,723 in in-kind contributions.

In contrast, his chief opponent in the Republican primary election, Brian Sandoval, reports collecting about $900,000 from January through May.

Gibbons’ two biggest single contributions of $10,000 each came from executive offices of Wynn Resorts and from Donald Laughlin of the Riverside Resort Casino in Laughlin.

Andy Abboud made four $5,000 contributions for $20,000 through various channels. He gave the money through the Las Vegas Sands Corp., the Las Vegas Sands LLC, the Sands Expo & Convention Center and the Venetian Casino Resort.

Several individuals contributed $10,000 in $5,000 segments through two companies.

Robert Bigelow gave $5,000 through Bigelow Investment and $5,000 individually.

Bill Brady made $5,000 contributions through Losee Road Land & Building and Brady Industries, both of Las Vegas, and the law offices of Urich W. Smith and Associates gave $5,000 in two segments.

The governor received $5,000 donations from Oleksandra Nikolyenko and Phil Ruffin of Ruffin Development Co., both of Las Vegas.

He reported $5,000 donations from Herman Schwarz of LogistiCare Solutions of Atlanta, Ga., and Grover Ferguson of Mission Industries of North Las Vegas.

One of Gibbons’ biggest expenditures was $15,300 to James Pfaff of Innovative Research and Data in Monument, Colo. The governor paid $12,410 to Jackson consulting of Reno.

Denny Weddle and Associates of Las Vegas received more than $11,000.

CBS Radio in Las Vegas was paid more than $12,000 by Gibbons; Beasley Broadcasting got $6,288; Clear Channel received $3,531 and SMI Radio got $3,162. All are based in Las Vegas.

The Johnson Family Irrevocable Trust in Carson City received a $10,000 payment by the Gibbons campaign.