New assemblyman’s campaign expenses reveal a lot

John Moore won a seat in the Assembly in November despite doing little campaigning, less fundraising, and having an outstanding arrest warrant for a traffic offense on file at the City of Las Vegas.

But from the look of his last campaign expense report on file with the Secretary of State, the Republican is starting to get the hang of this politics thing.

Moore sailed into office as part of the Republican sweep of candidates — most relatively unknown and espousing staunchly conservative platforms. Unlike a few of his colleagues in the Republican Assembly caucus, he’s remained on the sidelines of all the ongoing insider controversies.

Although he raised just a few hundred dollars through much of his, ahem, easygoing campaign for the Assembly District 8 seat held by well-funded but flat-footed Democrat Jason Frierson, Moore rallied late and since his election has enjoyed a comparative windfall of donations from businesses and individuals who no doubt were as surprised as he was to find him in the winner’s circle.

Among Moore’s interesting expenditures on his final contribution and expense report was a series of $1,500 payments to Sophie Zewdu, whose Tropicana Avenue address is identical to the one he lists as his own residence. After the election, Moore also noted an expense of $1,633 on Nov. 28 to the Men’s Wearhouse.

So at least his constituents know he’ll be dressing well during his Carson City sojourn. Time will tell whether his legislative colleagues also like his legislative style.

CARSON’S MODERNISTS: It’s good to see Republicans and Democrats at the Legislature can set aside personal political differences and come together for the benefit of all Nevadans on the truly important issues of our time.

You know, like making sure modernist architecture gets enough recognition.

To that end, legislators from both sides of the aisle are coming together to hold hands and promote the creation of “Nevada Modernist Architecture Day” as an officially observed date on the calendar. In this case, that day is May 20.

It’s a day of observance, not an official holiday, which means it won’t cost the taxpayers a dime — unless you’re forced to take your favorite modernist architect to lunch.

Despite what stacks up as a weighty legislative agenda, I’m beginning to suspect lawmakers may still have too much time on their hands.

CONNECTED GUYS: Workforce Connections, responsible for shepherding federal funding to local job training programs and service providers, continues to make strides under Executive Director Ardell Galbraith.

In a column last October, I outlined a problem with funding from the agency to the Latin Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation, which had drawn the ire of Workforce board member Bob Beers for the way it used some of the money it was granted.

But that issue has been resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, Galbraith reports.

“The end results were very refreshing,” he said. “All of the books balanced. The Latin Chamber Community Foundation was cleared on any type of irregularities that may have been looming. Workforce Connections staff did a thorough review of all the records and documents, and as a result the high-risk designation has been removed.”

Veteran board member Charles Perry added, “It’s one of those things that you run into trying to run a program that receives this type of federal funding. It can be very, very challenging.”

ON THE BOULEVARD: Sources report more challenges at local Department of Motor Vehicles offices still trying to iron out problems with the agency’s Fast Pass system. ... Hundreds of loyal Riviera employees, who for years have been the best feature of the venerable Strip hotel and casino, are wondering whether they’ll be forgotten now that the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has announced plans to buy and level the property to make way for an enormous convention complex.

BOULEVARD II: Former Las Vegas IRS Special Agent in Charge Paul Camacho continued his energetic, one-man history lesson this week at the Mob Museum with a program on the Lindbergh baby kidnapping case. ... Longtime Channel 3 sportscaster Dick Gregg Porter turns 88 this month. He supported local high school and college sports throughout his 26 years at the NBC affiliate.

BOULEVARD III: Bald is again beautiful at McMullan’s Irish Pub on March 7 for the annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser for childhood cancer research. The pub is at 4650 W. Tropicana Ave. For more information, go to stbaldricks.org. ... This year, the Children’s Specialty Center is hosting its own shaving event on conjunction with St. Baldrick’s. It’s set for 2 p.m. Sunday at L’Oracle Gymnastics, 7020 W. Warm Springs Road, Suite 170.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. Follow him on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.