Saturday, August 16, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

AMENDED DONATIONS: Moncrief owes $104,673 on City Council race

Accountant helping Ward 1 victor reconcile discrepancies on campaign reports

Janet Moncrief Campaign reports are being investigated

Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief still owes $104,673 for her successful campaign, despite raising $89,315 -- all of it donated after she won her election.

Her new friends include Station Casinos and the Stratosphere Gaming Corp. which gave the maximum allowed -- $10,000 each.

She also accepted $1,000 from Triple Five Development Corp., a company being examined as part of the FBI's political corruption probe. However, that information was not known when Moncrief accepted the donation.

Moncrief's reports are the subject of an investigation requested by Secretary of State Dean Heller into allegations that campaign finance laws were broken during her race in the spring. The Nevada Division of Investigations was asked Aug. 4 to conduct an inquiry into whether campaign contributions were concealed by Moncrief and whether she disguised participating in negative campaign mailers.

Moncrief, who defeated Ward 1 incumbent Michael McDonald, turned to certified public accountant Michael Kern to help her with campaign reports due Friday.

Kern said he is working on amending for a second time the second report filed May 27, which will balance the discrepancies that now appear.

On her last report, Moncrief said she had $942 cash on hand on May 22. In this report, she reported having $11,594 cash on hand May 23. Kern said he is working on reconciling the two reports.

While her primary opponent Peter "Chris" Christoff listed that Moncrief and Bob Stupak had donated $13,640 to his campaign on May 24 and May 30, her latest report does not show any such donations.

Until accurate reports are filed, it won't be clear how much she spent on her campaign.

Christoff has said he sent out mailers which were actually paid for by Moncrief and Stupak -- which Moncrief denies. His claims, as well as claims of former Moncrief supporter Steve Miller, were combined with a complaint filed by McDonald's consultant Jim Ferrence in April. Ferrence alleged then that Christoff was a front for Moncrief.

Christoff and Miller both denied any role in Moncrief's campaign until after she won the election and turned to others to help her retire her debt and set up an office.

Kern, an accountant used by many City Council members, said Moncrief has not accepted any cash donations.

Moncrief was not available for comment late Friday.

Under the law, Moncrief does not have to identify in this report who is owed the $104,673. Kern said the debt includes costs of consultants and media, but he declined to be more specific. The next reports are due in January.

Moncrief's report shows that in late May and early June she paid $18,630, including $5,500 to consultant Tony Dane and $4,834 to consultant Scott Winn, and $8,000 to Zignature Printing.

Her new contributors include gaming, developers, and attorneys who routinely donate to the other City Council members.

Other gaming contributors, aside from Station Casinos and the Stratosphere, include: Boyd Gaming Corp. ($1,500) and the Venetian ($2,500).

Developers include: Howard Hughes Properties ($5,000) and Laurich Properties ($2,500).

Attorneys include David Chesnoff ($500), Jimmerson Hansen ($2,500), John Momot ($250), Lionel Sawyer & Collins ($1,000) and Schreck Brignone ($1,000).

At least one contributor, Treasure Brown, is affiliated with the adult entertainment business. Brown gave $1,000 and has contributed to other council members in the past.

Golf course developer Bill Walters donated $2,505 in an in-kind donation for the July fund-raiser for Moncrief.