Campaign finance filings: Who’s running and who raised the most?

By Conor Shine

Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015 | 5 p.m.

With the 2014 election in the books, politicians at the state and county levels will get to take some time away from the campaign trail. But for candidates running in the upcoming municipal elections in June, the race is just beginning.

Although candidates can't officially file for office until Jan. 27, campaign finance reports released today give clues as to who's running and what support they've sewn up.

Leading the way is Henderson City Councilman Sam Bateman, who raised $262,452 in 2014 in advance of a run for re-election. Bateman drew broad support, with contributions from local casinos, including $20,000 from Station Casinos properties, tens of thousands of dollars from real estate and development companies and $15,000 from businesses in the burgeoning medical marijuana industry.

Fellow Henderson City Council members Debra March and Gerri Schroder are also gearing up for re-election, raising $160,995 and $67,421 respectively for their campaigns.

In Las Vegas, Mayor Carolyn Goodman brought in $136,756 for her run for a second term.

Her biggest contribution came from George Maloof Jr. and the Maloof family, which gave her campaign $5,000 each through four separate entities, for a total of $20,000. Station Casinos gave Goodman $10,000 total through several of its properties.

Councilman Bob Coffin raised $134,000 for his re-election campaign. His top donors included $15,000 total from a pair of Granite Gaming Group casinos, $10,000 total from four Station Casinos properties and $10,000 from tavern chain Dotty's.

Ricki Barlow, who's eligible for a third term on the city council this June, raised $35,250.

Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian is also eligible to run for a third term and raised $1,000 last year.

The top fundraiser among Las Vegas City Council members — Steve Ross, with a $137,850 haul — isn't even up for election this June. Instead, Ross, whose final term on the council expires in 2017, already has his eye on a seat on the Clark County Commission. The seat is currently held by Tom Collins, who will be term limited in 2016. Ross hasn't formally announced he's running for the seat, but said today that he's been "quietly campaigning" in recent months.

North Las Vegas City Council member Wade Wagner, who's eligible for re-election to a second term in June, raised $26,500 last year. His fellow council member Pamela Goynes-Brown is also up for re-election and raised $7,500 for her campaign.

Also on this year's ballot are five municipal court judge spots, plus races for mayor and two city council seats in Boulder City.

The municipal primary will be held April 7 with the general election on June 2.

Big money follows Republican victories

Even after his narrow 46 to 45 percent win over Ross Miller in the attorney general's race, money continued to pour into Adam Laxalt's campaign coffers.

Laxalt raised $353,518 in the days and weeks following his Nov. 4 victory, bringing his overall campaign fundraising total to $1,831,664, according to campaign finance reports released today.

Sen. Michael Roberson, who rode the Republican sweep to a new post as Senate majority leader, also saw a post-election windfall, bringing in $98,996 after Nov. 4. The contributions brought his total campaign fundraising for the election cycle to $916,509.

Newly elected Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison raised $93,842 in the final reporting period, including $78,917 after the election. Hutchison raised a total of $2,854,191 during the election cycle.