Henderson City Council candidates raised thousands during election season

Final campaign contribution reports for the 2011 Henderson municipal elections showed the high cost of winning a seat on the City Council .

Sam Bateman and Mike Mayberry, who fought for the Ward 4 seat, spent more than $300,000 combined.

Bateman, who won with 63.24 percent, or 8,330 votes, received $204,793.57 in contributions and spent $271,971.56 .

Mayberry received $111,782.14 in contributions while spending $125,253.33 .

Contributors ranged from individuals to companies and union groups. Both campaigns received contributions from companies such as Station Casinos, Boyd Gaming and Nevada Power.

Expenses were spent on anything from office supplies to advertising and consultants.

In the race, consultants were the biggest winners. One payment from Bateman to Consili Inc., a political consulting firm that helped with advertising and events, was $70,000. Mayberry gave one payment of $21,357.28 to consulting firm Groundswell Strategies Inc.

Both firms received numerous payments throughout the campaign.

Even though their races ended at the primary, the cost to get there still ended up in the six figures in Wards 1 and 2 .

Councilwoman Gerri Schroder retained her Ward 1 seat with 7,916 votes, or 54.18 percent , after going against five candidates.

Schroder's campaign raised $125,603.57 and spent $118,192.69 .

Her main challenger, Thomas Wagner, raised $77,565.35 and spent $48,390.43 .

The other candidates, Edward Hamilton, Ray Mollinado and Samuel Cahoon, reported that they did not receive any donations.

PDQ Printing, which does signs, banners and digital printing, received about $14,000 from Schroder's campaign.

The three-way race for Ward 2 among John Simmons, Debra March and Kevinn Donovan cost about $400,000 collectively.

March, who retained her seat with 8,074 votes, or 54.10 percent , received $138,076.12 in contributions and spent $194,756.88 .

Simmons received $83,80 0 in contributions and spent $160,548.74, while Donovan raised $4,359.44 and spent $3,601.62.

Most of the expenses went toward advertising. A & B Printing received about $35,000 from March's campaign.

In the June 7 general election , 13,192 people voted out of the 125,000 registered voters in Henderson. Only the Ward 4 seat was on the ballot because March and Schroder won their seats in the primary.

For more information on the results and campaign reports, visit cityofhenderson.com/city_clerk.

Contact Henderson and Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.