Follow the Money: Real estate and construction industries give close to $1 million to legislators

While they aren’t as flashy as the state’s gaming industry, Nevada’s construction, development and real estate businesses have long made up a significant portion of the state’s economy and employed a significant chunk of its workforce.

And that same industry also remains a major player in funding candidates to elected office. Businesses and individuals identified by The Nevada Independent as being involved in construction, real estate and development gave more than $942,000 to legislators throughout the 2016 campaign cycle.

The largest single donor was the Nevada Association of Realtors, which represents more than 15,000 realtors and gave legislators $259,600 during the election cycle. Other major donors included the Nevada Home Builders Association, which gave $110,000 to lawmakers, and the $68,500 given by the Nevada Subcontractors Association.

Democrats — who control both houses of the Legislature — reported industry contributions in excess of $561,000, compared to the $356,730 given to Republican lawmakers. Donations tended to flow more to the 42 Assembly members ($465,000) than the 21 state senators ($351,000).

But the party affiliation of top recipients was more mixed. The largest recipient with more than $80,000 in donations was freshman Republican Sen. Heidi Gansert, a well-connected legislator who spent several terms in the Assembly and a stint as Gov. Brian Sandoval’s chief of staff before taking a high-profile job at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Other top recipients included legislative caucus leaders, including Democratic Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford ($57,683) and Assembly Republican Leader Paul Anderson ($51,000).

Several measures affecting real estate and construction are still making their way through the legislative process, though a high-profile measure — AB462 — rolling back limits set on lawsuits related to construction defects staunchly opposed by home builders failed to pass a committee deadline earlier in April.

Below, we’ve listed out some of the major donations from the industry that were given to at least two lawmakers. As always, we’ve triple checked our numbers and math, but if anything seems off feel free to contact us at [email protected] or [email protected].

TOP 10 REAL ESTATE/DEVELOPMENT RECIPIENTS:

$80,475 to Senator Heidi Gansert (R)
$57,683 to Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford (D)
$51,000 to Assembly Minority Leader Paul Anderson (R)
$48,500 to Assemblywoman Irene Bustamante Adams (D)
$41,000 to Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson (D)
$37,200 to Senator Scott Hammond (R)
$28,250 to Senator Kelvin Atkinson (D)
$25,050 to Assemblyman Elliot Anderson (D)
$24,200 to Senator Joyce Woodhouse (D)
$24,200 to Senator Pat Spearman (D)

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT/REAL ESTATE: $398,350

Nevada Association of Realtors: $259,600

$10,000 to Assemblywoman Irene Bustamante Adams (D)
$10,000 to Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson (D)
$10,000 to Senator Kelvin Atkinson (D)
$10,000 to Assemblyman Nelson Araujo (D)
$10,000 to Assembly Minority Leader Paul Anderson (R)
$10,000 to Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson (D)
$9,000 to Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton (D)
$9,000 to Senator Scott Hammond (R)
$8,000 to Senator Julia Ratti (D)
$7,000 to Senator David Parks (D)
$7,000 to Assemblywoman Heidi Swank (D)
$7,000 to Assemblyman John Hambrick (R)
$7,000 to Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz (D)
$6,000 to Senator Heidi Gansert (R)
$6,000 to Senator Joyce Woodhouse (D)
$6,000 to Senator Tick Segerblom (D)
$5,000 to Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford (D)
$5,000 to Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno (D)
$5,000 to Assemblywoman Dina Neal (D)
$5,000 to Assemblyman Elliot Anderson (D)
$5,000 to Senator Nicole Cannizzaro (D)
$5,000 to Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui (D)
$5,000 to Senator Yvanna Cancela (D)
$4,000 to Assemblyman Edgar Flores (D)
$4,000 to Assemblyman Ira Hansen (R)
$4,000 to Assemblyman James Ohrenschall (D)
$4,000 to Assemblyman James Oscarson (R)
$4,000 to Senator Mark Manendo (D)
$4,000 to Assemblywoman Melissa Woodbury (R)
$4,000 to Assemblyman Mike Sprinkle (D)
$4,000 to Senator Pat Spearman (D)
$4,000 to Assemblyman Steve Yeager (D)
$3,500 to Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel (D)
$3,000 to Assemblyman Al Kramer (R)
$3,000 to Assemblywoman Amber Joiner (D)
$3,000 to Assemblyman Chris Brooks (D)
$3,000 to Assemblyman Chris Edwards (R)
$3,000 to Assemblywoman Jill Tolles (R)
$3,000 to Assemblyman Jim Wheeler (R)
$3,000 to Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner (R)
$3,000 to Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson (R)
$3,000 to Assemblywoman Robin Titus (R)
$3,000 to Assemblyman Skip Daly (D)
$3,000 to Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson (D)
$2,000 to Senator Becky Harris (R)
$2,000 to Senator Don Gustavson (R)
$2,000 to Senator James Settelmeyer (R)
$2,000 to Senator Mo Denis (D)
$2,000 to Senator Patricia Farley (I)
$2,000 to Assemblyman Richard Carrillo (D)
$2,000 to Assemblywoman Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod (D)
$1,100 to Assemblyman John Ellison (R)
$1,000 to Senator Ben Kieckhefer (R)
$1,000 to Assemblywoman Brittney Miller (D)
$1,000 to Senator Joe Hardy (R
$1,000 to Assemblyman Justin Watkins (D)
$1,000 to Assemblyman William McCurdy (D)

R&S Leasing, which is owned by Robert “Bobby” Ellis, president and CEO of Snap Towing: $66,250

$5,000 to Senator Mark Manendo
$5,000 to Assembly Minority Leader Paul Anderson
$3,500 to Senator Tick Segerblom
$3,000 to Senator Pat Spearman
$2,500 to Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford
$2,500 to Senator Becky Harris
$2,500 to Senator David Parks
$2,500 to Senator Heidi Gansert
$2,500 to Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson
$2,500 to Assemblyman John Hambrick
$2,500 to Senator Joyce Woodhouse
$2,500 to Senator Nicole Cannizzaro
$2,500 to Assemblyman Ozzie Fumo
$2,500 to Senator Patricia Farley
$2,500 to Senator Scott Hammond
$2,000 to Senator Julia Ratti
$2,000 to Assemblyman Mike Sprinkle
$1,500 to Assemblywoman Irene Bustamante Adams
$1,500 to Assemblyman James Ohrenschall
$1,500 to Senator Kelvin Atkinson
$1,500 to Assemblyman Richard Carrillo
$1,000 to Assemblywoman Dina Neal
$1,000 to Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel
$1,000 to Assemblyman Elliot Anderson
$1,000 to Assemblywoman Lisa Krasner
$1,000 to Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton
$1,000 to Assemblywoman Melissa Woodbury
$1,000 to Senator Mo Denis
$1,000 to Assemblyman Steve Yeager
$1,000 to Assemblywoman Teresa Benitez-Thompson
$1,000 to Assemblyman Will McCurdy
$750 to Assemblyman John Ellison
$500 to Assemblyman Chris Brooks
$500 to Assemblyman Ira Hansen
$500 to Assemblyman Jim Wheeler

Shlincoln PAC and SMAXY PAC, two PACs registered to John Ritter, CEO of Focus Property Group: $18,250

$1,500 to Senate Majority Leader Aaron Ford
$1,500 to Senator Scott Hammond
$1,000 to Senator Becky Harris
$1,000 to Senator David Parks
$1,000 to Senator Heidi Gansert
$1,000 to Assemblywoman Irene Bustamante Adams
$1,000 to Assemblyman James Oscarson
$1,000 to Assemblyman Jason Frierson
$1,000 to Assemblyman John Hambrick
$1,000 to Senator Joyce Woodhouse
$1,000 to Senator Kelvin Atkinson
$1,000 to Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz
$1,000 to Senator Pat Spearman
$1,000 to Assembly Minority Leader Paul Anderson
$1,000 to Senator Tick Segerblom
$500 to Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel
$500 to Assemblyman Elliot Anderson
$500 to Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson
$250 to Assemblyman Chris Edwards

Community Association Management Executive Officers (CAMEO), which represents owners or executive officers of community association management companies: $14,250