State treasurer candidate questions opponent's money
Democrat alleges Republican received $172,500 in 'tainted' donations
CORRECTION -- 10/06/06 -- A story in Friday's Review-Journal raising questions about some campaign contributions to Mark DeStefano in his campaign to become state treasurer contained an error. The contribution to DeStefano from GOP activist Monty L. Miller was $1,000.
Mark DeStefano Republican candidate running for state treasurer
Kate Marshall Democratic candidate running for state treasurer
CARSON CITY -- The Democratic candidate for state treasurer on Thursday called on her GOP opponent to return what her campaign called "tainted" financial contributions.
Republican treasurer candidate Mark DeStefano received campaign money from eight different donors that have a variety of problems, said Joshua Wolf, manager of Kate Marshall's state treasurer campaign.
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"I am calling upon you to renounce the peculiar financial arrangements which generated this money and return the donations to those individuals immediately," Wolf said.
The letter cites donations from eight donors comprising the majority of DeStefano's contributions from sources other than himself.
The donors include individuals and companies which have been investigated for wrongdoing or have other questionable financial records, the letter alleges.
In total, Wolf called for the return of $172,500 in campaign contributions.
DeStefano campaign manager David Gallagher said the letter is being reviewed.
"We have received the letter from Ms. Marshall's campaign assistant," he said. "In the meantime, history says that Ms. Marshall regularly flip-flops on issues so we would not be surprised to get an apology letter from her tomorrow."
Among the donations the Marshall campaign wants to see returned include $100,000 from Clark County businessman and GOP activist Monty L. Miller. Sources have said that Miller was involved with former Clark County Recorder Fran Deane in the sale of documents from her office.
Another is the Westminster Securities Corp., which, according to the Marshall campaign, has accumulated numerous fines over a six-year period and had its securities licenses revoked in a number of states. The firm donated $5,000 to DeStefano.
Also on the list is Joseph R. Edington. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the FDIC filed numerous lawsuits against Edington and his companies, the letter said.
"And, like DeStefano, Edington also has a record of filing a personal bankruptcy," the letter said.
Joseph R. Edington's related entities contributed $62,400 to DeStefano, according to the letter.
