Adamsen tops in campaign funding

Las Vegas Councilman Arnie Adamsen has raised and spent the most money in his bid to become the city's next mayor, but fellow competitors Mark Fine and Oscar Goodman weren't far behind.

In reports filed Tuesday Adamsen revealed that he raised $664,685 and spent $671,451. Fine, a developer, raised $595,152 and spent $557,702, while attorney Goodman released preliminary figures of $571,356 in contributions and $526,236 in expenses.

The three men have been widely viewed as the front-runners in the nine-candidate race for mayor as they head into next Tuesday's primary. Incumbent Councilmen Michael McDonald and Gary Reese, who are seeking re-election, also have raised and spent far more money than all their competitors combined.

Adamsen collected at least $82,000 from the gaming industry. His biggest contributions include $30,000 from Howard Hughes Corp. and related companies, and $10,000 each from Budget Rent A Car of Las Vegas, Coast Hotels & Casinos and Republic Silver State Disposal Inc. and related companies.

He also received $10,000 each from Station Casinos, Eastern Beltway Ltd., Rebel Oil Co., Wanda Peccole, Circus Circus Enterprises and related casinos and Lady Luck hotel-casino.

His biggest expense, $285,777, has been for television advertising. Adamsen also has spent $80,959 on direct mail, $59,371 on polling and $53,046 for paid campaign staff.

Fine reported at least $78,000 from the gaming industry and $100,000 in personal loans. His biggest contributions included $10,000 each from MGM Grand Inc. and Circus Circus Enterprises.

He also received numerous $5,000 contributions from donors such as Budget Suites Inc., Las Vegas Hilton, Peccole Nevada, Coast Hotels, Christopher Homes, KVBC Channel 3, Andre Agassi Enterprises, Boyd Gaming Corp., Bellagio, Station Casinos, Becker Realty, Towbin Dodge, Nevada Title Co. and Fiesta hotel-casino.

Fine's biggest expense was $259,781 for television advertising. He also spent $71,012 on newspaper advertising, $46,020 on radio advertising and $33,260 on signs and brochures.

Other mayoral candidates who filed reports included Frank LaSpina, who raised $6,480 and spent $5,122; Cruz Olague, who raised $4,245 and spent $4,357; Anthony Snowden, who raised $750 and spent $2,400, and Tom McGowan, who spent $100. Reports from fellow candidates Hillary Michael Milko and Doug Opolka weren't immediately available. Goodman's full report also wasn't immediately available.

In the Ward 1 race McDonald has raised $535,551 and spent $303,724, far outdistancing his competition. Former Councilman Steve Miller came closest, having raised $18,150 and spent $16,010.

Two other candidates in that race, Linda Gray and Paul Holder, raised and spent $275 and $160 respectively. The report from fellow candidate Chris Christoff wasn't immediately available.

McDonald, who is seeking his second four-year term, raised at least $90,000 in cash and in-kind services from the gaming industry. His biggest contributions included $20,000 from Howard Hughes Corp. and related companies, and $10,000 each from Station Casinos, Bally's, Manley Development, Randy Black, Facilities Communications in New Jersey, Binion's Horseshoe, Tropicana Resort, Eastern Beltway Ltd., Budget Rent A Car of Las Vegas and Chancellor Media.

The councilman's largest expenditure has been $86,945 for consultants, followed by $45,030 for television advertisements and $40,066 for direct mail.

Miller's largest contribution was $5,000 from Henry Daft of Las Vegas. He also received $3,700 in loans from wife Elizabeth. Miller has spent most of his money, $10,302, on direct mail.

Like McDonald, fellow incumbent Reese has raised and spent far more than his foes in Ward 3. Reese, who is also seeking his second term, has raised $323,471 and spent $228,818.

His closest opponents were Nevada Stupak, who raised $11,000 and spent $10,321, and Harvey Munford, who raised $4,955 and spent $8,830. Fellow candidates Lionel Fleming, Bradley Smith, Carlo Poliak and Charles Broadus all raised and spent well under $1,000.

Reese received at least $60,000 from the gaming industry and $20,000 each from Howard Hughes Corp. and Republic Silver State Disposal Inc. and their related companies. He received $15,000 from Station Casinos and $10,000 each from the Taggart Family Limited Partnership, Eastern Beltway Ltd. and Binion's Horseshoe.

The councilman spent $38,501 on signs and brochures, $34,275 on radio advertising, and $30,355 on direct mail but allocated no money for television ads.

The campaign finance reports from municipal candidates were to be postmarked by midnight Tuesday.

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