Spending by Goodman, Giunchigliani tops $2.3 million in Las Vegas mayor’s race

The two candidates for Las Vegas mayor have so far spent more than $2.3 million pursuing the office in one of the most expensive mayoral contests the city has seen, according to the latest campaign totals.

Chris Giunchigliani and Carolyn Goodman are competing for the position, which has an annual salary of about $130,000.

They emerged from a field of 18 candidates, among them several who spent large sums of their own. The biggest outlay belonged to venture capitalist Victor Chaltiel, who spent $1.7 million -- much of it his own money -- in his failed bid.

"I would venture to say it's the most money spent ever, especially considering what Victor spent," said Bradley Mayer, Goodman's campaign manager. "I think you'd be hard pressed to find another mayor's race that's cost this much."

Gary Gray, Giunchigliani's campaign manager, was more cautious. The 1999 race when the current mayor, Oscar Goodman, won his first term also was expensive, he said, and values have to be adjusted for inflation.

"In terms of absolute dollars, it (this year's race) might be" the most expensive, Gray said. "Although an awful lot of money went into that 1999 race."

Campaign finance records from then are outside the retention window and have been destroyed, City Clerk Beverly Bridges said.

Between March 25 and Thursday, Giunchigliani reported raising $760,611. She spent $701,705. Her fundraising total includes $225,000 transferred from her Clark County Commission re-election account from last year.

Since the beginning of the year, Giunchigliani has raised $1,195,356 through last week and spent $1,097,599. In all, $425,000 was transferred from her commission campaign fund, leaving about $770,000 in contributions during the mayoral race.

During the most recent reporting period, Goodman brought in donations totaling $729,710 and spent $742,102.

From the beginning of the year, Goodman has raised $1,448,095 and spent $1,269,603, according to the report turned in Tuesday.

"We had some catching up to do," compared with Giunchigliani and other candidates who started raising money earlier, Mayer said. "Everybody had a head start."

Gray said it's not worrisome that, when the transferred money is taken out, Goodman has outraised Giunchigliani by about 2-to-1.

"We've always expected that Carolyn Goodman, with her connections with a very wealthy community, would be able to draw down those larger contributions," he said. "We do have what we need. This week, fundraising is continuing to go apace."

Spending by both candidates has included aggressive advertising via television, direct mail and robocalls.

Giunchigliani wants voters to dismiss Goodman as an inexperienced newbie with nothing but her husband's name to back her up. She is Oscar Goodman's wife.

Goodman's campaign has portrayed Giunchigliani as the ultimate government insider, someone who would frighten businesses and kowtow to public employee unions.

The race has reflected current economic concerns. The candidates have focused on jobs, foreclosure mitigation, business recruitment and continued downtown redevelopment, with both claiming the unique experience to get the job done.

There also is a contested race in Ward 3 on the Las Vegas City Council.

Bob Coffin has a comfortable fundraising lead in that race, garnering $267,000 so far.

His opponent, Adriana Martinez, has received about $168,000 through the end of the latest reporting period.

Coffin spent $211,487 between Jan. 1 and Thursday, while Martinez spent $134,692.

Early voting ends Friday, and the general election is Tuesday.

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