Tuesday, August 05, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

WARD 1 ELECTION: State official requests inquiry

Division to check allegations Moncrief violated campaign finance laws

Dean Heller The Nevada secretary of state requests a full inquiry into Janet Moncrief's bid for office Janet Moncrief The Las Vegas City Council member says she was unaware of any illegal activity

Secretary of State Dean Heller on Monday called for a full investigation of allegations that Las Vegas City Councilwoman Janet Moncrief violated campaign finance laws in her bid for the office earlier this year.

In a letter to the Nevada Investigations Division, which will conduct the inquiry, Heller said "the scope of the investigation may expand into areas not initially requested."

Heller's spokesman, Steve George, said the investigation could include gaming entrepreneur Bob Stupak, who has been accused of secretly financing parts of Moncrief's campaign.

Stupak, who is not listed on Moncrief's campaign reports as a contributor, had one comment Monday: "Have a nice day."

The complaint was filed in April by Jim Ferrence of Paladin Advertising, a campaign consultant to Ward 1 incumbent Councilman Michael McDonald. The two-term councilman lost to Moncrief in June's election.

The complaint alleged Moncrief had a role in the distribution of illegal mailings. Ferrence alleged she conspired with Peter "Chris" Christoff, a primary election foe of Moncrief and McDonald, to disguise her role in financing negative campaign mailers. Ferrence alleged Stupak was financing Moncrief.

Ferrence said Moncrief was concealing campaign contributions and under-reporting her contributions and expenses.

A contributor can donate a maximum of $5,000 to a candidate each election. Under state law, for the contributor and the candidate to willfully exceed that cap is a felony.

Moncrief's swearing-in June 18 was marred when two of her former supporters, Christoff and former City Councilman Steve Miller, filed affidavits alleging they helped her send campaign mailings under false names.

Christoff said he agreed to be a front for negative mailers targeting McDonald. Miller said he was a consultant who worked on an anti-union mailer distributed under a false name.

During the campaign, both men had denied involvement in Moncrief's campaign.

In July, California political consultant Jeff Evans, owner of JC-Evans Communications, provided records to the Review-Journal showing he billed Moncrief for printing fliers that were designed to appear as if they were mailed by McDonald. One flier portrayed McDonald as anti-union. A second was titled "The Moncrief Conspiracy."

Moncrief issued a statement saying she would cooperate with the investigation but would not discuss it with the media. "From the start, I have said that I was not aware of any illegal activity involving my campaign," her statement said.

She referred questions to Anthony Cabot, a gaming attorney with Lionel, Sawyer & Collins.

"We welcome the investigation because it gives us the opportunity to clear up a lot of unsubstantiated allegations against the councilwoman," Cabot said.

George predicted the office by mid-August would have some idea of how long the inquiry would take.

Because Christoff and Miller made conflicting statements about their involvement in the Moncrief campaign, George said, "the crux of the investigation will be at which point are they telling the truth."

State investigators have the discretion to expand the inquiry, which he said could include Stupak "and could include a lot of people."

Christoff was named as a subject of the complaint by Ferrence.

"I put out five fliers from the primary to the general, and Stupak paid for all five," Christoff said Monday. He said the payments were made in cash, and he cannot document receiving the payments.

But Christoff said he can document his costs, including postage. Christoff said he did not have the kind of money needed to produce and mail the fliers.

Ferrence said the fact that his complaint will be investigated fully and was not dismissed is a vindication for McDonald. Ferrence said that besides Stupak, few people involved in the campaign would have had the financial resources to pay for the controversial mailers.

"I wish the secretary of state could have responded in a timely fashion," Ferrence said.

Ferrence filed the complaint April 25, before the May primary, and McDonald lost to Moncrief in the June 3 general election.

Miller said he was satisfied that the investigation is going forward. He said if printer Jerry Wolkon and Moncrief campaign manager Tony Dane are put under oath, they will confirm what he and Christoff have alleged.

"There was a lot of tomfoolery here, the public was duped, and I'm sorry I had anything to do with it," Miller said.

He said Stupak called him in January or February and said he was going to run his girlfriend against McDonald. "He asked me if I'd write her materials and coach her and be her consultant and adviser. He offered me $25,000 and said I'd be her ward liaison."

Moncrief has denied Miller's allegations. She said in her July 22 response to Heller that Miller made false allegations because she refused to appoint him as her community liaison.

She said she had nothing to do with the fliers Christoff claims to have distributed.