Sheriff candidates spent more than they brought in

Incumbent Sheriff Kenny Furlong has outraised his two opponents thus far in the campaign season, but all three spent more than they took in, according to campaign expense reports filed June 1 by the three candidates for Carson City sheriff.

Furlong, seeking his third term in office, raised $9,464 - some $700 more than Deputy Bob Guimont, and $1,400 more than Capt. Bob White.

But the biggest spender in the campaign was Bob White, who spent about $13,650, while Guimont spent $12,600 and Furlong spent $9,722.

Furlong and White had the same number of donors, each with 15 individuals donating to their campaigns, while Guimont had 10 donors, two being a married couple. More than half of Guimont'sx campaign funds came from a $5,000 donation by the Carson City Sheriff's Protective Association of which Guimont is a member.

On Friday, Dennis Johnson, a Carson City man who considers himself a political activist and unsuccessfully ran for supervisor in 2008, filed a complaint with the Secretary of State's Office alleging Guimont was not forthcoming in his expense filing.

Most notably, said Johnson, Guimont's expense reports don't show any payments for newspaper advertising and Guimont did not list a single in-kind donation - a service offered free of charge.

Nor does the report indicate a web designer in either the expense portion or the in-kind section, said Johnson.

Guimont said Friday he has yet to pay the Nevada Appeal for his campaign ads, he was uncertain who bought an ad that ran in the Sierra Sage and he said his website was designed by a friend.

Guimont said any gatherings he had at area businesses were free of charge and guests paid the businesses for their own refreshments.

And Harley Davidson, where Guimont has held several events, does not charge for use of their space, said Guimont.

Johnson also questioned who paid for Guimont's advertising.

"Even Kenny's got 'Paid for by the committee to re-elect Ken Furlong' and Bob White's say 'Paid for by the committee to elect Bob White,'" he said.

One large ad endorsing Guimont, in the Sunday edition of the Nevada Appeal, was paid for by the Carson City Sheriff's Protective Association. Guimont said he was not present when the association voted on whether to pay for an ad.

Johnson said any errors on the financial statements are telling.

"But if it's oversight, that there brings into questions whether or not someone is paying attention to detail, something you would have to do if you want to be sheriff," said Johnson. "Would he be a good cop or a good sheriff, I don't know, but you've got to pay attention to some of these things."