Local officials up in arms over proposed ban

Elected officials in Clark County are so miffed by the National Gaming Impact Commission's recommendation to prohibit casinos from contributing to local campaigns, one was even willing to compare gaming to, well, oranges.

Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone said Tuesday that gaming is to Nevada what oranges are to Florida, but casinos always seem to be targeted because some lawmakers are vehemently opposed to gambling.

"They act like casinos are an illegal industry. It is as legitimate as any other industry in any other state," Malone said. "If we're going to stop allowing casinos to contribute to campaigns, we better look at stopping the citrus industry in Florida or the cattle industry in Texas."

It's no secret casinos and developers fill campaign war chests for Clark County candidates, but officials are tired of the perception they favor casino executives because of the large sums of money contributed.

There is little doubt the prohibition would affect the amount of money candidates would have to run their campaigns. Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny shattered campaign contribution records last year by collecting about $1.2 million, much of which was from hotel-casinos.

But as commissioners also discovered last year, casinos' ability to financially support candidates can work against them. Las Vegas Sands Inc. Chairman Sheldon Adelson spent $2 million on ads and donated to the opponents in an attempt to unseat incumbent board members.

When asked their opinion of the federal commission's recommendation, most board members simply shrugged.

"It doesn't matter one way or the other to me," said Myrna Williams, who echoed the thoughts of her colleagues. "It just presupposes the most negative thing about people running for office."

Williams said it's becoming more difficult to hold public office because elected officials are constantly being accused of wrongdoing. She said the majority of politicians run for office because they believe they can have a positive effect on their communities.

Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates agreed and opened a folder with a list of community projects that have nothing to do with casinos or the gaming industry.

"If it's a level playing field, it doesn't matter," Gates said.

As Las Vegas mayoral candidate Oscar Goodman pointed out, the recommendation might not even be a serious threat because there are doubts it would withstand constitutional scrutiny. He said it infringes on freedom of speech.

Goodman, a criminal defense attorney, called the proposition "foolish."

"People who are making that suggestion probably call Nevada, Nevahdah," Goodman said, enunciating the differences. "They always like to put down Nevada as second class."

His opponent, Las Vegas City Councilman Arnie Adamsen, said there is no doubt if the recommendation is approved and becomes law, it will affect campaigns across the country.

"That would certainly drop my contributions, as it would other candidates," Adamsen said. "It would also impact federal races."

SUN REPORTERErin Neff contributed to this report.

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