Johnson says fundraiser puts state's water rights under cloud

TEMPE, Ariz. - The governor's race in Arizona is heating up, with Democratic challenger Paul Johnson suggesting that Gov. Jane Hull may allow campaign contributions to influence state policy.

Johnson said the Republican incumbent's acceptance of Las Vegas campaign cash raises questions about whether she'd give up Arizona's rights to Colorado River water which Nevada covets.

"Las Vegas is out of water. They need ours," Johnson said Sunday night during a televised debate. "She ought to tell us she isn't going to give one drop of Arizona water to Nevada."

Johnson's suggestion is nonsense, Mrs. Hull told reporters after the debate.

"Of course, I'm not willing to give up water rights," she said. "My integrity, as you know, isn't for sale."

Mrs. Hull acknowledged there were "some staff talks going on" between officials of the two states but said she did not believe they concerned helping Nevada on water.

"I don't believe our water banking has the ability to help out anybody except Arizona," she said, referring to Arizona's program to store unused Colorado River water in underground aquifers until it is needed.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Sept. 24 that a Southern Nevada Water Authority executive had told a Nevada Water Resources Association meeting in Las Vegas the previous day that the authority would move ahead with plans to purchase Arizona water. Under those plans, authority General Manager Pat Mulroy said, the water Nevada would purchase would be stored in Arizona until it is needed in Nevada.

Fast-growing Nevada is using nearly all its Colorado River allotment at a time when California uses more than its allotment - made possible because Arizona does not use all of its.

Mrs. Hull appeared with Johnson, Libertarian Kat Gallant and Reform Party nominee Scott Malcomson during the debate aired live by KAET at Arizona State University and KUAT at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Most of the debate covered well-trod ground, including the school construction finance program which Mrs. Hull helped draft and Johnson's proposal for mandatory school uniforms.

Johnson trails Mrs. Hull in both polls and fundraising, and his latest attack on the Las Vegas contributions apparently was aimed at weakening the popular incumbent who replaced fellow Republican Fife Symington as governor 13 months ago.

Saying Nevada interests apparently wanted to influence Arizona's policy on gambling, Johnson previously had criticized Mrs. Hull's acceptance of $31,000 in contributions from a July 15 fundraiser at a Las Vegas restaurant.

But he said Sunday night that much of the money actually came from developers, including some with links to Del Webb Corp. The Phoenix-based development company has extensive Las Vegas land holdings that cannot be developed without more water, Johnson said after the debate.

"There's a big question. That $31,000, it wasn't all from gaming interests. (It was) from Las Vegas developers," Johnson said.

If it weren't for the hope of getting Arizona water rights, why else would Nevada developers care about Arizona's gubernatorial campaign, he asked reporters.

Mrs. Hull should return the money, Johnson said.

When Johnson first broached the subject during the debate, Mrs. Hull responded that she was "extremely offended."

She said she has had several out-of-state fundraisers, most involving fellow Republican governors. Attendees at the Las Vegas fundraiser included Nevada Republican gubernatorial candidate Kenny Guinn.

"Kenny Guinn will probably be the next governor of Nevada. We have a working relationship," Mrs. Hull said.

The incumbent then criticized Johnson for numerous instances on his own campaign finance reports where contributors' occupations are not listed.

"Paul, if you would identify your contributors, it might make it easier to figure out who's giving you money," she said.

Her campaign manager-son, Michael Hull, later gave reporters a 17-page list of Johnson contributors without occupations and a much shorter list of Nevadans' contributions to Johnson.

Johnson, who has repeatedly criticized Mrs. Hull for requesting and accepting contributions from lobbyists and special interests, has asked many of them for campaign money, Mrs. Hull added.

"Unfortunately, they turned you down," Mrs. Hull told Johnson as they stood side-by-side behind lecterns in the KAET studio.

Reform Party nominee Scott Malcomson followed by saying the back-and-forth over special interests influencing state government is "the sort of reason why I am running."

On school construction, Johnson said the state can't afford the new Student First program's cost to state government.

"There's no doubt it doesn't work. They know it. They're just not telling you that," he said.

Mrs. Hull said the money would be there to build, repair and equip schools and that Johnson was wrong to claim that the program still gave mines and utilities a huge property tax cut.

That provision was removed after the state Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional, she said. "I do wish you'd do your homework, Paul."

Johnson has proposed mandatory school uniforms as part of a get-tough education program that also includes alternative education for disruptive students and a statewide code of conduct for students.

The state has an obligation to provide safe schools, and requiring uniforms will help do that by reducing gang influences, Johnson said. "What a governor can do is provide some backbone."

Mrs. Hull said local districts should decide uniforms policies. "Those are issues that involve the parents."

Libertarian Kat Gallant recoiled at the idea of mandatory school uniforms. "I believe in individuality," she said.

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