First candidate contributions reports filed

The deadline for Nevada candidates to file their first contribution and expense reports was Friday, but the report political observers most wanted to see wasn't there.

Gov. Jim Gibbons opted to send his report to the Secretary of State's Elections Division by certified mail instead of walking down the Capitol hallway and handing it in. Under Nevada law, that's perfectly legal as long as the report is postmarked before 5 p.m.

The reason, according to more than one in the Gibbons camp, is the low amount of money he has been able to raise.

His biggest opponent in the Republican primary, Brian Sandoval, turned in a report showing he has raised more than $900,000 in just the three months since he resigned from the U.S. District Court bench.

Rory Reid, chairman of the Clark County Commission and the leading Democrat in the race, submitted a report showing more than $3.3 million in contributions.

Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, who was battling a criminal indictment until early December, raised a surprising $140,000 total with $104,000 of that coming since Dec. 20 after the charges against him were dismissed.

Former North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon, also running against Gibbons in the GOP primary, raised $306,264, according to his first C&E report. He has apparently already spent nearly all of it - more than $274,000.

In the Capital Senatorial District race, former Carson Mayor Ray Masayko's report had not been posted as of 5 p.m. Friday. But Assemblyman James Settelmeyer's report showed contributions totaling $50,000.

In the Nevada Senate district being vacated by Randolph Townsend of Reno, Assemblyman Ty Cobb reported total contributions of $123,220. More than $70,000 of that total was carried over from his last campaign. His opponent in the Republican primary, Ben Kieckhefer, reported %4,700 in contributions. The district includes part of North Lake Tahoe and a piece of northern Carson City as well as Washoe Valley and south Reno.

Reports are expected to continue coming in well into next week as those sent by certified mail and those filed in the wrong place arrive at the Elections Division. Candidates in all multi-county districts as well as statewide candidates are required to file with the Secretary of State. Those seeking offices confined to just one district file with their county clerk. However, many of those who should file with the state make the mistake of doing so in their own county instead. The state has traditionally forgiven that error as long as the report was there before the deadline.

Candidates must file three campaign contribution and expense reports each election cycle. That requirement remains even if a candidate withdraws from a race part way through the campaign. Elections Division officials advise all candidates that the only way a candidate can escape that requirement is to die during the campaign.