Taking a trip in the WayBack machine, I happened upon the following little nugget. The RJ reported back in March, 2005, how North Las Vegas Mayor Mike Montandon received $50,000 bundled up from the Binion “family” just before a vote on the City Council that benefited the, you guessed it, Binion family.
The Mayor, in the midst of his campaign back then, tried to deflect the fire from the affair towards NLV Councilperson Shari Buck. He described a meeting with Jack Binion just prior to the vote in this way:
“I had lunch with (Jack Binion) sometime last summer and he brought me some campaign checks,” Montandon said. “The timing of that had more to do with Councilwoman (Shari) Buck’s commission race. He (Binion) had been in writing checks for Councilwoman Buck’s campaign and he wrote some others.”
You wonder that Jack didn’t strain something. He was probably carrying about $100,000 with him that day.
Councilperson Buck denied getting any money from Binion, but, it you read the correction at the top of the story:
Correction on 03/29/05 — A story about North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon in Saturday’s
Review-Journal stated Councilwoman Shari Buck had not received campaign contributions from members of the Binion family. However, her first campaign contribution report, due Aug. 31, contained donations from five Binion family members totaling $50,000.
I tried to locate the Binion entries in Buck’s financials, but the relevant one is not posted on the Secretary of State’s site or on the North Las Vegas one. It should be on the 2005 elections reports page, but I guess the city folks figured that since Buck’s seat wasn’t up for election that year, they didn’t have to post hers. That’s the charitable interpretation, anyway. Binion’s contributions to Mayor Mike are on page 3 of his 2004 report (pdf).
Buck joined the Mayor and the rest of the Council in accepting the Binion proposal (p. 21 of the Minutes of the November 3rd, 2004 City Council Meeting).
So, if you thought the pay-off to Mayor Mike a bit scummy, what do you think of Buck’s'?
By the way, I have not yet made up my mind about the City Council elections in either ward, and I may not endorse anyone. I’ll let you know if I change my mind.
I came across your blog in a google search. Great stuff My name is janet dixion and I am a north las vegas resident (transplant from New York) I had 2 candidates in my ward visited my home. Of the 2 I was most impressed with Jo Cato. She seem sincere in response to my questions regarding residents and big developers. I think she said she serves on the planning commission. Do you have any additional info on her. I see nothing on your blog?
Thanks janet dixon.
You may want to get yourself registered to vote as you are not listed as a voter anywhere in North Las Vegas. Those candidates wasted their time if that’s the case.