Las Vegas mayoral candidates raising, spending millions

The five leading candidates for Las Vegas mayor together have raised more than $3.4 million and spent $2.9 million in a race for a job that has an annual salary of about $130,000.

"I know that similar amounts were spent in the 1999 mayor's race," which was the last time before this year that it was an open seat, noted Bradley Mayer, campaign manager for Carolyn Goodman.

"It's going to end up being the most amount of money spent for sure," he said. "Just because there's so many candidates and the fact that it's going to the general (election), so people are going to spend more money."

In terms of pure dollars, entrepreneur Victor Chaltiel is way in front, spending $1.2 million, including $756,845 on advertising. However, 94 percent of the $1.4 million that came into his campaign account was his money.

Carolyn Goodman, wife of current Mayor Oscar Goodman, has been the front-runner since her last-minute decision to enter the race. A poll by the Review-Journal and 8NewsNow earlier this month showed her being the favorite of 36.5 percent of respondents, followed by Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown with 17.5 percent and County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, 11.7 percent.

And her fundraising is ahead of the other candidates as well.

She raised $718,385 in the first reporting period, which ran from Jan. 1 to March 24, and it was relatively easy to do so despite a crowded field of candidates, said Mayer.

"I wouldn't characterize it as tough at all. As soon as we got in the race, it was almost instantaneous," he said. "You get a few people here and there who give you the 'after the primary' thing, so I think there's still a lot out there to raise.

"You have all these elected officials in the race. It's hard sometimes for people to play favorites."

economic effects

Brown, who announced early in the race, has raised $420,850 so far this year and $155,800 in 2010, and so far has spent $545,000.

Jim Ferrence, Brown's campaign manager, said the economy has had more of an effect on fundraising than the crowded field, since a lot of campaign donations used to come from developers.

"The fundraising hasn't tapered off as the field filled up," he said. "There's just a lot less money available to any candidate in general."

Giunchigliani was a late entrant into the race, as was Goodman. That did, in fact, upset the balance a little, said Giunchigliani campaign manager Gary Gray.

The $434,745 she reported included a $200,000 infusion from her County Commission campaign account.

"There for a while the donor community, if you will, just froze up a little bit," he said. "Lately, Chris has been picking up more and more calls. In their mind, I think they're beginning to see Chris as moving forward."

Rounding out the top five is Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross. His campaign manager, Steve Redlinger, said they reached a $300,000 goal that was set initially. Ross reported raising $265,593 so far this year and $45,150 in 2010.

Unlike the other four contenders, Ross did not go the TV route, choosing to spend $180,000 on direct mail and other kinds of nonbroadcast advertising.

"I was pretty proud of the fact that we were able to raise close to $300,000 for the campaign," Redlinger said. "That was the goal. We were able to match those expectations with an expanded playing field."

In all, 18 people filed to run for mayor. They face off Tuesday in a primary vote. In the unlikely event that one candidate achieves a majority, that person would win. What's expected, though, is that the top two finishers will move on to the June 7 general election. Early voting ends Friday.

CITY COUNCIL RACES

There will be Las Vegas City Council races on the ballot as well, and one of them -- Ward 3 -- is an open seat. The job pays about $72,000 a year.

The three main candidates in that race started raising money in 2010.

During the first 2011 reporting period, Adriana Martinez brought in $52,016, which was added to the $7,500 she accepted last year.

So far, the City Council liaison and former state Democratic Party official has spent $51,069.

Planning Commissioner Steve Evans raised $45,303 so far this year and $19,395 last year. He has spent $60,418 on the race to date.

Former state legislator Bob Coffin's contribution and expense report wasn't available Tuesday. He said his campaign accountant hasn't been feeling well and might have mailed the report.

He raised $44,000 in 2010 and said he added another $100,000 so far this year, while spending about $65,000.

Ricki Barlow, the incumbent in Ward 5, raised $203,908 during the reporting period and spent $163,016, far outpacing his challengers, Randy "Mr. Randy" Voyard and Richard Dees.

Voyard took in $7,108, most of which came from a $4,593 loan to himself, and spent $3,514.

Dees reported no contributions or expenditures.

Another candidate on the Ward 5 ballot, Stanley Washington, also did not raise or spend money, and he has thrown his support behind Voyard.

Lois Tarkanian, the incumbent in Ward 1, is also far ahead of her challengers in fundraising. Her contributions total $64,411 so far, of which she has spent $51,767.

She has two opponents. Margarita Rebollal's report was not available, but she said Tuesday she had mailed it in. Doug Ward has neither raised nor spent any money, according to his report.

Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.