Woodbury leads all candidates in fundraising for Boulder City election

By Dylan Scott

Saturday, April 2, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.

All eight candidates for Boulder City Council and mayor have filed their campaign finance reports with the city clerk, and they show a striking disparity among the candidates’ ability to raise money.

Rod Woodbury, son of former Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, led the field by a wide margin, raising $52,970.

He spent $26,876 between Jan. 1 and March 24, the period covered by the candidates’ first report, in his bid for City Council. Most of it paid for advertising, as was the case with all candidates.

His father and mother, Rose, each contributed $5,000. Another $5,000 came from the South Point hotel-casino, and Mike Ensign, a former gaming executive and son of U.S. Sen. John Ensign, cut a check for $4,000.

In total, a little more than $31,000 of Woodbury’s contributions originated outside of Boulder City, including $7,000 from valley cab and limousine companies.

Council candidate Peggy Leavitt and Mayor Roger Tobler were neck and neck as runners-up, earning $23,870 and $23,822, respectively. Their contributions showed some notable overlaps.

The Woodbury Family Trust donated $5,000 to both candidates, and the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors dropped $2,500 for Leavitt and Tobler. Robert Draney, a Boulder City resident, gave $5,000 to Tobler and $3,000 to Leavitt.

Both candidates saw substantial contributions from Las Vegas cab and limousine businesses: $4,300 for Tobler and $2,150 for Leavitt.

Leavitt, a former social worker, received $2,500 from the Hacienda hotel and casino. Tobler accepted $1,000 from the Committee to Elect Joe Hardy and another $1,000 from Acclona Solar Power Inc. in Henderson.

Tobler spent $16,609, while Leavitt spent $13,705, the majority of which paid for advertising.

Tobler’s opponents for the mayor’s seat — Councilwoman Linda Strickland and Zachary Scott Inman, a local business owner — raised $5,175 and $1,300, respectively.

Strickland’s top gifts were several $500 donations from Boulder City residents. Inman received three contributions from Boulder City residents to reach his $1,300 total. Both spent the majority of their funds on advertising.

City Council candidate Rose Ann Miele, the city’s former public information officer, secured $5,848 for her campaign. Boulder City Disposal Inc. gave $1,300, and Waste Logistics NV donated $650. She spent $4,220, mostly on advertising.

Council candidate Lynn Goya, who made an unsuccessful bid for the District 20 state assembly seat in November, received $4,928. More than half — $3,004 — came from a political action committee for the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, Local 525. Goya spent a little more than $2,000 on advertising.

Council candidate Linda Graham, wife of a minister at Grace Community Church, raised $1,109, all of which came from Boulder City residents. She, too, spent the majority on her advertising efforts.

The municipal primary election is Tuesday.