Local candidates earn more than $312,000 in races

Carson City candidates for public office have raked in more than $312,000 in campaign contributions for the Nov. 7 election.

Thursday marked the second time candidates for local offices had to report their campaign contributions or expenses, regardless of whether they made it through the primary. There are three reporting periods for campaign contributions and expenses, the last in January.

Democratic Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell brought in the most money - $72,185 - of candidates in the local contested races, Assembly District 40, Carson City mayor and Ward 4 supervisor.

Parnell pulled in donations from several construction companies with her largest donations coming from the Citizens for Justice Trust with $3,000 and the Joseph Dini Legislative Fund with $2,000. Parnell added $30,762 to her campaign since the August filing date.

Her Republican opponent, Jeanne Simons, has raised $65,213 for her campaign, including donations of $10,000 each from Republican Assembly Caucus, the Republican Legislative Joint Caucus and the Keystone Corp., a group of state business leaders.

The Carson City Republican Central Committee donated $3,742 to Simons' campaign, and the Carson City Republican Women's Club added $1,225. Simons has spent $39,753 on her campaign.

Incumbent Mayor Ray Masayko and challenger Tom Tatro are separated by about $500 in fund-raising, with Masayko raising $34,409 to Tatro's $34,929.

The Carson City Republican Central Committee donated $2,272 to Masayko's campaign and $131 to Tatro's. A local company called BORPAC donated $1,000 to both Masayko's and Tatro's campaigns. Masayko has spent $25,746 on his campaign, and Tatro has spent $29,677.

Ward 4 Supervisor candidate Verne Horton listed his contributions at $15,950, with just over $1,000 coming from the local Republican clubs and $1,000 from BORPAC. Horton has spent $14,392 on his campaign.

His opponent, Richard Staub, had not filed his return by 5 p.m. Thursday. He had listed contributions of $18,380 in the August filing.

Carson City judges Robey Willis and John Tatro are both running unopposed for their department one and two justice of the peace positions. Willis raised $36,276 and spent $32,326 , almost all before the primary election. He took in $325 in donations after the primary election when he defeated opponents Ron Weddell and Bill Kreider, and he spent $2,288 after the Sept. 5 primary.

John Tatro reported no campaign dollars raised after the August filing date. He listed $28,074 in campaign-related expenses.

Mayor candidates Tom Keeton and Neil Weaver, knocked out of the mayor's race in the primary election, spent $8,006 and $15,453 respectively on their campaigns. Ward 4 supervisor candidate Frank Sharp raised $16,585 toward his campaign and spent $15,819.