Pubdate: Fri, 01 Nov 2002
Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV)
Copyright: 2002 Las Vegas Sun, Inc
Contact:  http://www.lasvegassun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/234
Author: Cy Ryan, Sun Capital Bureau
Cited: Nevadans for Responsible Law Enforcement ( www.nrle.org )
Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org )
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?162 (Nevadans for Responsible Law 
Enforcement)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?163 (Question 9 (NV))

OUTSIDE GROUP TOUTS Q9 WITH $1.275 MILLION

CARSON CITY -- A Washington-based organization has poured $1.275 million 
into the campaign to support legalization of marijuana in Nevada, far 
outspending the opponents of the election ballot question.

Three major Strip gaming companies financed the opposition.

The Marijuana Policy Project of Washington made four contributions to back 
the campaign supporting Question 9, which would legalize up to three ounces 
of marijuana for adults. The contributions went to Nevadans for Responsible 
Law Enforcement, which reported spending $1,140,865.

Fighting to defeat the marijuana petition were the Venetian, which gave 
$71,000; Park Place Entertainment and Boyd Gaming, which both chipped in 
$25,000; and Sunbelt Communications, which contributed $10,000.

Those contributions went to the Committee to Keep Nevada Respectable, which 
collected $143,800 and spent $128,265. Of the expenses, $107,000 went to 
FFG Advertising and $20,000 went to Rogich Communications for consulting.

A group called Nevadans Against Legalized Marijuana collected $6,325 and 
spent $6,225. The major contributor to this group was Stop DUI, which gave 
more than $5,000. The organization also got a contribution of $500 from 
Bill Young, a candidate for Clark County Sheriff.

The Coalition for the Protection of Marriage, which is supporting a ban on 
gay marriages in Nevada, reported it collected $351,468 since the primary 
election in September. At that time it had a balance of $523,231. In its 
report filed Thursday, it said it spent $730,231 since the primary election.

The ballot issue would stipulate in the state constitution that only 
marriages between a man and a woman are legal in Nevada.

The numbers come from campaign finance reports which were filed earlier 
this week with the Nevada Secretary of State's office.

State Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, the Democratic candidate for 
governor, reported he collected $24,396 in his campaign and has spent $20,362.

Neal's campaign report shows he received $1,000 from the Nevada Senate 
Democrats, $2,000 from Sen. Harry Reid's Searchlight Leadership Fund and 
$1,000 from state Sen. Bob Coffin of Las Vegas.

Sen. Terry Care, D-Las Vegas, chairman of the state Democratic party, said 
it decided not to support Neal because he endorsed Republican Lynette Boggs 
McDonald, who is black, against Democratic incumbent Shelley Berkley in the 
1st Congressional District Race.

Reports filed Thursday in the Secretary of State's Office show Clark County 
Commissioner Erin Kenny, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, 
collected $376,568 since the primary election. She had a balance before the 
primary election of $400,804. She reported her expenses since the primary 
at $729,505.

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt reported receiving $270,515 since the last report 
filed shortly before the primary election. She said she had $53,699 left at 
that time. She spent $315,820 since late August on her campaign.

Assemblyman John Lee, D-Las Vegas, who is running for state controller, 
said he collected $59,876 during this reporting period that should be added 
to the balance of $45,965 that he had shortly before the primary election.

Lee reported he spent $46,576 and has $49,264 left.

One of his contributors is Vestin Mortgage Inc., operated by Michael 
Shustek, who is involved in a controversy for his donations to Democrat 
John Hunt, the candidate for attorney general.

The secretary of state's office is investigating a complaint that Shustek 
may have funneled money through others to the Hunt campaign. Shustek has 
denied the allegation lodged by Republican candidate Brian Sandoval.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager