Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Legislative lobbyists boost lawmakers running for Congress; Titus helped by DC PACs

That's what can be gleaned from an analysis of Federal Election Commission reports from the four Democrats who have filed -- Steven Horsford announced after the third-quarter deadline. Some  detail below and even more from the document attached at right.

John Oceguera ($109,807 raised, $14,000 spent, $95,000 COH)

Synopsis:

The outgoing speaker tapped lots of legislative lobbyists to get to six figures, including a trial lawyers lobbyist (Scott Canepa) he was always close to and a former assemblyman (Scott Sibley), a friend who got him $12,500 (thanks to his wife and his mother, too). Oceguera also benefited from two former speakers (Barbara Buckley and Richard Perkins) and, my favorite, the GOP lawyer (David O’Mara) who argued the Republican Party’s case in the special House election lawsuit.

One legislative regular, attorney Mark Fiorentino, gave $500 to Oceguera as well as the same amount to Dina Titus and John Lee. Wonder if he will get a call from Ruben Kihuen?

Oceguera also took in money from colleagues such as Ways and Means Chairwoman Debbie Smith, Majority Leader Marcus Conklin and Marilyn Kirkpatrick; and Henderson Councilwoman Kathleen Vermillion.

He also took $2,500 from the Fertitta Entertainment PAC – shhh, don’t tell the Culinary.

Ruben Kihuen ($92,000 raised, $6,800 spent, $10,000 loan, $95,00 COH)

Synopsis: Not surprisingly, there are a large number of Hispanics on this list, along with a few colleagues (Mo Denis, Olivia Diaz, Richard Carillo), some lobbyists and someone named Rory Reid.  He also took some money from Caesars Entertainment.

Dina Titus ($201,000 raised, $8,000 spent, $193,000 COH)

Synopsis: It’s clear from looking at her report that the reasons she had so much more money than the others is that as a former congresswoman, she had access to many DC PACs. Titus also took money from a former congressman (Jim Bilbray), some Greenspuns, a former boss (Carl Harter), a former state Senate antagonist and his wife (Mark James, now cab company owner, former GOP senator), Palms man George Maloof, lots of legislative lobbyists and NV Energy CEO Michael Yackira.

John Lee ($39,000 raised, $26,000 spent, $4,000 loan, $17,000 COH)

Synopsis: The state senator’s paltry haul came mostly from legislative lobbyists, but also included cash from developer Billy Walters, bankers Parry, Peter  and Thomas Thomas, and some of his local government folks Steve Ross, Tom Collins, Gary Reese).

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy