Two-term Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson has raised more than $600,000 for his re-election bid, trouncing his two challengers who combined have raised a little more than $5,000 for Tuesday's primary.
Gibson, who ran unopposed four years ago, raised more than $175,000 between Jan. 1 and March 24, according to campaign contribution reports filed this week with the city clerk's office. Those contributions added to the more than $436,000 that Gibson raised in 2004. He raised $10,000 in 2003.
By contrast, Laurie Robinson, an insurance claims adjustor, raised $5,110 so far this year. Susan Gillean-Bedell, a part-time casino banquet server, reported she received no contributions but has spent $500.
Robinson said the large amount of money raised by Gibson gives the impression that donors with building or rezoning projects can easily get a stamp of approval.
"I am not being bought by anybody," Robinson said. "I don't need the large contributions from builders and casinos. The question is why is it necessary to have $600,000 to run for the mayor of Henderson? What does he have to give back in consideration for all those donations?"
Gibson appeared insulted by Robinson's comments and pointed out that he is one of five votes on the City Council. He said he appreciates the contributions as a show of support. People who contribute support good government and want candidates who help the community move in the right direction, he said.
"They don't get anything but good public service," Gibson said. "Nobody has ever bought anything from me. I am not for sale. I don't know what motivates her to say anything she says.
I don't control anything at City Hall. This council is very collegial, professional and talented. Those qualities combined with a real commitment to the community make this a successful council."
Robinson's campaign has focused on blaming Gibson and the council for allowing growth to happen too fast before roads and other infrastructure could be completed. Gibson counters that the city has said no to projects and has done a good job of managing growth.
Gibson has spent more than $204,000 for the campaign so far this year. He spent more than $20,000 in 2004.
The mayor said he won't spend all of the money and only raised the amount he did because he didn't know what kind of race to expect. He said he raised about $250,000 in 1997 when four candidates ran for mayor.
"When I filed for election, I had no clue what kind of opposition I would draw and what kind of capacity for funding my opponent would have," Gibson said. "I established a budget and outlined a campaign and followed that outline. This has nothing to do with my opponent. This is what I figured I owed the citizens in helping them understand where I stand on the issues."
Robinson questioned whether Gibson planned to use the excess funds for a gubernatorial campaign in 2006.
Gibson said he's honored his name has been mentioned but has no plans at this time to run for governor. He pointed out a gubernatorial campaign is a long race and that's not appealing.
"I have no plans other than to win this election," he said.
Robinson said it's difficult to run a campaign without having financial backing because it costs money for mailers, but she said she's confident she can win with a door-to-door campaign. More than $1,400 of her contributions came from her husband, attorney Richard Charles Sipan. Other lawyers also contributed.
Paul Brown, the Southern Nevada director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, which is pushing for campaign finance reform and publicly funded elections, said such a large discrepancy between candidates shows the need for reform.
"Money often translates into votes unless there is a scandal," Brown said. "By raising that kind of money, you have bought the office. It is a done election. People can phone in their votes."
Brown said the $10,000 donation limits should be lowered to at least $2,000 and casinos shouldn't be allowed to bundle donations by having each of their properties donate. Businesses donate because they say they are good corporate citizens, but they see it as an investment to get preferential treatment, Brown said.
Gibson said he doesn't think government intervention is necessary and that raising money is part of the political system. He said there haven't been any abuses in Henderson and contributions help candidates get information to the public.
Gibson's $10,000 donors include Aquila Investments of Las Vegas, B&E Inc. of Henderson, Boulder Highway Holding Co. of Las Vegas, Boulder Station of Las Vegas, Carina Corp. of Las Vegas, Cielo Nevada LLC of Phoenix, Cornerstone Mortgage of Las Vegas, Green Valley Ranch Gaming LLC, Palace Station of Las Vegas, Picerne Development Corp. of Phoenix, Sanders Construction Inc. of Henderson, Sunset Station of Henderson, the Bingham family trust of San Diego, Plise Companies of Las Vegas, Plise Development of Las Vegas, Jacob Tal of San Francisco, Texas Station of North Las Vegas, TWC Aviation of Burbank, TWC Construction of Henderson, W.L. of Nevada of Los Angeles, Your Vitamins of Henderson, and Valley Auto Mall Owners Association of Henderson.
Henderson Councilman Jack Clark, who has no opposition in his re-election bid, has raised more than $54,000 this year. Clark raised nearly $183,000 during 2004.
There are two other contested primaries outside of Las Vegas on Tuesday, and both are for Municipal Court judge.
In the race for the newly created Henderson Municipal Court Department 3, Laughlin pro-tem Justice of the Peace David Gibson, the nephew of Mayor Gibson, has raised $28,600 so far this year for the campaign featuring four candidates.
Michael Miller, who serves as both a pro-tem and Henderson Municipal Court judge and pro-tem justice of the peace, has raised $32,200.
Henderson city prosecutor Diana Hampton has raised $19,300, while Kenneth Long, a North Las Vegas city prosecutor, has raised $5,800. Long's campaign, however, shows he has spent more than $11,600 so far this year.
In the race for North Las Vegas Municipal Court that was created in January, Willia Chaney, executive director of Smart Start Child Care Center has outpaced her five challengers in raising money so far this year. Chaney has raised more than $61,000, most of it in the form of loans she made to her own campaign. The other five candidates combined have raised more than $72,000.
Behind Chaney is Sean Hoeffgen, an attorney who spends half of his week representing defendants in Las Vegas Municipal Court. He has raised nearly $32,000.
Keith Buck, the husband of North Las Vegas Councilwoman Shari Buck, has raised $22,200. He was followed by Christopher Larotonda, a North Las Vegas police lieutenant, with nearly $11,000. Robert Nelson-Kortland, an attorney for Las Vegas Senior Citizens Law Project, has raised $7,200.
Marcia Daines, an administrative assistant in Las Vegas Municipal Court, has raised nothing. She has attempted to drop out of the race but was too late to get her named removed from the ballot.
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