Beers queried about event e-mail
The secretary of state’s office is asking state Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, whether he knew about a campaign contribution solicitation that might have violated the state campaign finance laws.
The inquiry stems from a political consultant’s e-mail last month seeking co-hosts for a Beers fundraiser scheduled for next week. Legislators are not allowed to solicit contributions or commitments of money in the 30 days following the end of the legislative session.
The e-mail is dated June 25; the regular session of the 2007 Legislature ended on June 5.
The e-mail was provided to the Review-Journal on the condition its recipient, a state lobbyist, not be revealed. In it, consultant Robert Uithoven wrote, “I’m putting together Sen. Bob Beers’ first re-election kick-off event on the evening of 7/19 at Red Rock Station and I wanted to see if you and some of your clients would be willing to co-host. It will be $1k per host, which will entitle each paying entity two attendees.”
After a reporter asked about the e-mail, the secretary of state decided to investigate further, spokesman Bob Walsh said.
“It’s the secretary of state’s intent to send a letter of inquiry to Senator Beers asking for information about his knowledge of this,” Walsh said. “He’ll have an opportunity to respond, and we’ll go from there.”
Uithoven, who was Gov. Jim Gibbons’ campaign manager before opening his own Reno-based political consulting shop, J3 Strategies, said he sent many such e-mails to people who might be interested in helping Beers, but made it clear that contributions could be made only outside the 30-day window.
“I sent probably dozens of e-mails where I made it clear to people he (Beers) cannot personally solicit or receive contributions prior to July 6,” Uithoven said. “The official solicitation went out July 9 under the Beers campaign name, and the event is July 19.”
Uithoven, who is a consultant to the state Republican Party, said he is not a paid employee or consultant of Beers’ campaign, just “a supporter.”
Beers could not be reached on Thursday.
Those listed as co-hosts on the invitation include several top lobbyists and law firms, major corporations, business associations and Republican luminaries such as Sig Rogich and former Gov. Robert List. The main hosts of the event are Gibbons, Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio and state Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden and her husband, Paul.
The invitation asks for contributions of $1,000 per corporation or political action committee, and $500 per individual. The fundraiser is being held at Cili Restaurant, not Red Rock.
The e-mail that prompted the inquiry does not mention the 30-day window. It states, “I know a couple of your clients will likely want to be on board … so I’d appreciate you checking with them. I’ll certainly let Bob know of any supporters you personally are able to get to the event.”
Nevada statute states, “It is unlawful for a member of the Legislature … to solicit and accept any monetary contribution, or solicit or accept a commitment to make such a contribution for any political purpose during the period beginning … 30 days before a regular session of the Legislature and ending 30 days after the final adjournment of a regular session of the Legislature.”
Each violation of the statute is punishable by a $5,000 fine.
At this point, Walsh said, the secretary of state’s office is looking into the potential violation only of that statute, 294A.300, which would apply only to the legislator in question.
However, another statute, 294A.310, prohibits solicitations on behalf of candidates and applies also to those making such solicitations or those making or committing to make banned contributions.
“A person shall not accept a contribution on behalf of another person to avoid the prohibitions of this section,” it states in part.
