Monday, Nov. 16, 1998 | 11:55 a.m.
SPARKS -- Veteran political consultant Jim Denton, who has helped elect scores of Nevada candidates to local and state offices, is quitting.
Denton, whose client list reads like a "Who's Who" in Nevada Politics, has exerted behind-the-scenes influence in Nevada politics since handling his first race in 1977.
"It was a heckuva ride," he said. "But the process definitely takes a personal toll on you and it's time to go on with different things. I still don't know what I'll be doing."
The Republican's clients have included Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., former lieutenant governor Sue Wagner, Supreme Court Justices Bill Maupin and Cliff Young, and Supreme Court Justice-elect Deborah Agosti.
Other clients have been state Sens. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, and Bernice Martin-Mathews, D-Reno, and former Reno Mayors Pete Sferrazza and Barbara Bennett.
His clients achieved a lot of firsts: Bennett was Reno's first female mayor, Agosti was the first female Washoe District Court judge, Wagner was Nevada's first female lieutenant governor, Martin-Mathews was its first female black state senator and Fidel Salcedo was Reno's first Hispanic justice of the peace.
"Someone said the other day that I established a lot of firsts," he said. "I didn't establish any firsts. I just helped elect a lot of good people."
Denton, 53, of Sparks, focused on legislative and local government races, and developed campaign strategy and advertisements.
He gained clout by becoming an adviser and friend to many of his clients. But unlike other campaign consultants, he shunned legislative lobbying.
"I thought it was inherently improper to help elect people to the Legislature, then turn around and lobby them on behalf of other clients," he said.
His clients, who have represented both major political parties, primarily have been fiscal conservatives and social moderates like himself, Denton said.
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