Walker leading in campaign spending

By Jean Reid Norman

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 | 5:45 p.m.

City Council candidate Cam Walker raised more than $15,000 for his campaign from March 27 through May 21 while his opponent Bill Smith raised no money.

Smith has said he would not take campaign contributions, and reported only $768 worth of signs donated to his race during the second reporting period of the municipal election season.

However, the Friends of Bill Smith committee raised $3,358 and spent $3,314, mostly on advertisements in local newspapers. Its largest contributors include committee members Arn McClain, $500, and Sara Weber, $280, as well as Dick Farmer, $300.

"The only money to be spent on my behalf will be by this group," Smith said after the primary, adding he would not contribute to it himself.

"I could afford to spend a fair amount of money on this campaign if I chose," he said, "but I do not choose that."

Walker said he has not solicited contributions except among family members and close friends, but he received endorsements and contributions from two unions and the Las Vegas Board of Realtors since March.

Walker received $5,000 from the Board of Realtors, $2,500 from the Plumber and Pipefitters Local 525 and $1,500 from the Sheet Metal Works Local 88. He received another $5,000 from Duncan McCoy, who won one of the two open council seats in the primary.

"I am humbled by that support and outreach," Walker said. "I'm honored that they recognize that I will represent Boulder City and the community where their members reside."

Smith received two donations of signs from Sara Weber and Ron Perry. Weber is also the chairwoman of Citizens for Governmental Accountability, which took out an ad critical of Walker's tenure on the Las Vegas Monorail during the primary election.

Walker's expenses ranged from $135 to Snappy Thoughts, a company that makes magnetic car signs, to $4,500 to H2 Outreach of Boulder City, a consulting company. His expenses included $1,000 to the Best Dam Barbecue.

Citizens for Governmental Accountability did not spend any money during the second reporting period, but it collected $550 and reported carrying over $1,555 from 2008.

BC Truth, another political action committee, reported raising no money but spending $424. Chaired by Boulder City resident Donald Smale, it took out robocalls critical of primary candidate Joe Roche based on allegations made by Roche's former employer, American Shredding, in a small-claims lawsuit.

The lawsuit, which alleged Roche owed American Shredding $2,140 for an authorized advertisement and debit card withdrawal, was dismissed for lack of proof..

McCoy and Matt DiTeresa were the only primary candidates who reported raising any money since March 27, the beginning of the second reporting period. The primary election was April 7. McCoy raised $695, and DiTeresa contributed $270 to his campaign.

CORRECTION: This story was updated to reflect a revised contribution report from Matt DiTeresa. | (June 3, 2009)