Dems in bitter state senate race report funds
Mark Manendo and Kathy McClain, two termed-out Democratic assembly members from Las Vegas vying for one spot in the state senate, reported campaign contributions and expenses for January through May, the first reporting period of 2010.
McClain reported raising $50,473 for the period to $42,041 for Manendo.
Combined with funds raised last year, McClain has received $115,715 for her campaign and spent $111,379.
Manendo reported a total of $117,971 raised for the entire campaign and expenses of $131,096. Of the expenses for Manendo, $120,688 have come this year.
The two candidates are seeking to represent heavily Democratic Clark District 7 in the senate, which means the winner of the primary will likely win the general election against either Trish Marsh or Anthony Wright, both Republicans.
Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, termed out after representing the district for 12 years.
With nearly identical voting records in the assembly, McClain and Manendo have made the race into a bitter personal fight. Manendo claims McClain got off easy after Secretary of State Ross Miller found her guilty of using $7,276 in campaign contributions to pay for retirement expenses. McClain has attacked Manendo for being middle-aged, unmarried and having lived with his mother as an adult. She and her supporters have also sought to remind voters Manendo lost a chairmanship in the assembly following the 2003 session of the legislature after being accused of sexual harassment. More recently, some Democrats have sought to push forth a new harassment allegation Manendo denies and so far hasn't resulted in any official action.
Major contributions to McClain include $5,000 from South Point Hotel & Casino, $5,000 in two contributions from Boyd Gaming and $2,500 from MGM Mirage.
The Manendo report lists a $2,000 from Marquis Companies, an elderly home care and home health service firm in Milwaukee, $4,000 from Barrick, a mining firm in Elko and $2,000 from Private Trials, a dispute resolution company.
