Bill would force ex-candidates to dispose of unspent campaign funds

CARSON CITY — A bill requiring former candidates to dispose of unspent campaign contributions within two years was introduced in the Legislature on Wednesday by two GOP lawmakers.

Senate Bill 194 is being sponsored by Sen. Greg Brower and Assembly Minority Leader Pat Hickey, both R-Reno.

The lawmakers said it is aimed at closing a loophole and increasing transparency in Nevada’s campaign finance reporting laws.

The bill takes aim at a situation in which former Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley has been able to maintain a campaign war chest of nearly $400,000 despite not being a candidate since leaving office after the 2010 general election.

Buckley has continued to file campaign contribution and expense reports listing herself as a candidate, but with no office specified. She did so legally after receiving a $200 campaign contribution from fellow Democrat and former state Sen. Sheila Leslie in January 2011.

By receiving the contribution, Buckley is defined in Nevada state law as being a candidate for public office, though she did not seek office in 2010 or 2012. She was term-limited out of the Assembly in 2010 after serving since 1995.

Buckley considered a run for governor in 2010 but decided against it.

Hickey said he first became aware of the issue in 2009, when he realized that Nevada ex-officials were sometimes maintaining big campaign chests despite not running for office. The bill would require that a person who receives an excess of $100 to dispose of all contributions after being inactive for two years.

“This bill is part of a larger effort to make our campaign laws more transparent,” Brower said. “The loophole targeted by this bill was never intended by the Legislature, and it should be closed.”

Brower said the practice “violates the spirit, if not the letter” of the law.

The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections.

Buckley could not be reached for comment on the legislation. But when asked last year about her decision to maintain the campaign fund, Buckley said she has kept it in case she runs for office in 2014 or 2016.

Buckley said she relied on advice from the Legislative Counsel Bureau and the secretary of state’s office before doing so.

Buckley also said she has been fully transparent with all money received and spent from her campaign fund in her filings with the secretary of state’s office.

Buckley’s campaign contribution and expense report showed no contributions in 2012, but she spent $155,000 in 2012, mostly in donations to Democratic candidates. She gave $8,700 to Leslie’s campaign.

Leslie challenged Brower in the Senate 15 race in 2012, losing narrowly.

Buckley also spent $35,000 in 2011.

In her annual report for calendar year 2010, filed in January 2011, Buckley reported that her campaign fund totaled just under $575,000.

Contact Capital Bureau reporter Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.