Cherchio leads candidates in fundraising in NLV council races

Incumbent North Las Vegas City Councilman Richard Cherchio still leads the city's other council candidates in fundraising this year, according to the latest campaign reports filed this week.

The councilman, who is campaigning to keep the Ward 4 seat he was appointed to in 2009, raised $157,849 so far this year.

Cherchio's biggest contributors during the latest reporting period, which ran from March 25 to May 26, included Rebel Oil Co., which gave $7,000, and Santa Fe Station, which gave $5,000.

Cherchio, who has spent $163,080 on his campaign this year, is engaged in a nasty battle with the city's public safety unions, who have been campaigning against him. The councilman butted heads with union leaders during contract concession talks and voted in favor of cuts to public safety.

The city's police and firefighters unions have endorsed Cherchio's opponent, dentist Wade Wagner, who raised $109,270 this year and has spent $92,778. His biggest contributors this period were the International Association of Firefighters in Washington, D.C., which gave $10,000; the Henderson Professional Firefighters Association PAC, which gave $5,000; and Station Casinos properties Texas and Santa Fe, which gave $5,000 each.

In the Ward 2 race, assistant principal Pamela Goynes-Brown raised $66,970 this year. Her opponent, property manager Linda Meisenheimer, raised $38,331.

Early voting ends today , and the election is Tuesday. North Las Vegas City Council members serve four-year terms and earn $41,827 a year.

Also up for election is North Las Vegas Municipal Judge Department 1. Marsha Kimble-Simms, an attorney with her own law firm, faces Catherine Ramsey, a North Las Vegas deputy city attorney in the criminal division, in the race. Municipal judges in the city serve six-year terms and earn $148,438 a year.