Saturday, May 03, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

WARD 1 RACE: Moncrief backers identified

McDonald aide details illegal campaign finance allegations

THE PLAYERS Janet Moncrief Challenger took 48 percent of the April 8 municipal primary vote Michael McDonald Incumbent has ethical issues in his past Bob Stupak Gaming figure accused of financing Moncrief campaign

Officials with Councilman Michael McDonald's campaign believe they've unmasked the "John Does" behind what they allege is a conspiracy to illegally fund the campaign of Ward 1 challenger Janet Moncrief.

Sworn statements made this week by political consultant and McDonald supporter George Harris indicate there are undisclosed financial ties between Moncrief's campaign and gaming figure Bob Stupak, McDonald campaign manager Jim Ferrence said Friday.

Last week, Ferrence filed a formal complaint with the secretary of state, alleging Moncrief and others, including "one or more John Does," were participating in a "conspiracy of deception, illegal mailings, vast under-reporting of expenditures and other unlawful acts."

"It turns out the financier is Bob Stupak and her campaign manager is Tony Dane," Ferrence said. "It seems perfectly appropriate for the public to be aware of that."

In the April 8 municipal primary, Moncrief outpolled McDonald 48 percent to 44 percent, sending the two to a runoff in the June 3 general election.

Moncrief, who reported spending only $11,761 in the primary, has acknowledged Stupak is a friend. But she has consistently denied he prompted her to run or is funding her campaign.

The registered nurse and surgery center director attributes her success to door-to-door campaigning and inexpensive mailers.

According to Harris' affidavit, Stupak called him Jan. 14, told him that he might have a candidate to run against McDonald and that he would pay him $10,000 to work as a consultant on the campaign. Harris had worked as a consultant on the failed 1999 City Council campaign of Stupak's son, Nevada Stupak.

Stupak called back the next day, according to Harris, and "indicated that this candidate, his girlfriend, was a nurse."

Moncrief said she has never met Harris.

Bob Stupak declined comment for this story.

Harris also states in the affidavit that political consultant Tony Dane told him he was to be paid $30,000 by the Moncrief camp "to make phone calls."

Harris approached Dane to offer him a job as a consultant on the McDonald campaign. In that conversation, "Mr. Dane indicated to me that he had already been approached by the Moncrief campaign and offered $30,000," Harris stated.

Moncrief and Dane acknowledge he operated an automated telephone service to invite voters to a campaign party at a local tavern several days before the primary. But both say the service and the $200 to $300 fee Dane was paid is the extent of their relationship. The expense will be included in upcoming finance reports, Moncrief said.

Dane said Harris' assertion he was to receive $30,000 for working on the campaign is "a bold-faced lie."

"As good as Janet is doing, I'd love for that to be true," Dane said. "I would love to take credit for everything she's done because she's run a decent campaign on a very low budget."

Ferrence said Dane's involvement would be a logical continuation of his history of political chicanery.

Dane orchestrated the failed campaign of David Parks, who last year ran against Assemblyman David Parks in the District 41 Democratic primary. Dane's father, Phillip Dane, was Assemblyman Parks' Republican opponent in the general election. Challenger David Parks' name was removed from the ballot after he testified that he had no mailing address, home phone, driver's license or job in Nevada.

"Now he's apparently fallen back to recruiting a nurse with a clean slate," Ferrence said.

Ferrence said he might add Harris' affidavit to the complaint he filed with the secretary of state's office last week. In it, he alleged about $45,000 has been spent on mailers targeting McDonald and benefiting Moncrief that is unaccounted for in campaign finance reports.

The money pouring into the campaign financed negative mailers targeting McDonald, while Moncrief took the "high road," Ferrence alleged.

Political observers were divided on whether the McDonald camp's attacks on Moncrief are a smart tactic for the two-term councilman, who has ethical issues in his past.

Political consultant Dan Hart, a veteran of numerous Las Vegas political campaigns, said there might be some benefits.

"There's a school of thought that says they have to even the playing field," he said. "Then again, it may distract from what they're ultimately trying to do, which is win the election."

For her part, Moncrief said she believes it's a waste of time.

"They can keep bringing it up, I don't care," she said. "I think they're wasting time and money."