Strip Political Donations Show Big Republican Tilt

The Strip's top executives and managers were well- represented during the 2004 federal election cycle, showing a proclivity to Republican candidates while ensuring Nevada's congressional delegation was well-funded.

Steve Wynn, chairman of Wynn Resorts Ltd.; $87,211

Elaine Wynn, director of Wynn Resorts Ltd.; $79,211

The Wynns contributed to the campaigns of several Republican Senate and House candidates from across the country in 2004 while enhancing the coffers of Republican parties in several states.

Both Wynns contributed $25,000 to the Republican National Committee and, together, gave $8,000 to President Bush's re-election efforts.

They each made $2,000 contributions to the Democratic presidential efforts of former Missouri Rep. Richard Gephardt and $1,000 contributions to the campaign of the Democratic nominee, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

Sheldon Adelson, chairman of Las Vegas Sands Corp.; $93,500

Adelson gave $25,000 to the Republican National Committee and $25,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee. His wife, Miriam Adelson, contributed $25,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Together, the Adelsons contributed $4,500 to President Bush's re-election campaign.

Terry Lanni, chairman of MGM Mirage; $81,000

Lanni kept most of his contributions local, giving $2,000 to the Nevada re-election efforts of Democratic Sen. Harry Reid, $4,000 to Republican Rep. Jim Gibbons, $2,000 to Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley and $2,000 to Republican Rep. Jon Porter.

While Lanni donated $2,000 to President Bush's re-election campaign, he also contributed $2,000 toward Gephardt's presidential efforts.

He and his wife, Deborah, each contributed $25,000 to the Republican National Committee.

Frank Fertitta III, chairman of Station Casinos; $47,000

Lorenzo Fertitta, president of Station Casinos; $48,000

Other than Sen. Reid, Republicans were the benefactors of contributions from the members of the Fertitta family. Reid collected $2,000 from Frank Fertitta III and $1,000 from Lorenzo Fertitta, but the bulk of their contributions went to Republican senate candidates in several states. Gibbons collected $3,500 from the two Fertittas; President Bush's re-election efforts were bolstered by $8,000 in contributions.

Family patriarch Frank Fertitta Jr., who no longer has any business ties to Station Casinos, donated to many Republican candidates, including $50,000 to the Republican National Committee.

Michael Ensign, chairman of Mandalay Resort Group; $34,000

The father of Republican Sen. John Ensign donated $10,000 to his son's political action committee, Battle Born PAC.

He also contributed $2,000 to President Bush and $4,000 to Gibbons.

Ensign also contributed to two Democrats, donating $2,000 to Reid's re-election and $1,000 to Berkley.

Jim Murren, president of MGM Mirage, and his wife, Heather; $33,000

The Murrens crossed party lines in their contributions.

Jim Murren contributed $2,000 to the President Bush, but he also contributed $1,000 to Gephardt and $2,000 to the presidential efforts of Democrat Wesley Clark. He also donated $1,000 to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.

Heather Murren gave President Bush and Kerry each $2,000, and she gave $8,000 to the Democratic National Committee.

Mike Sloan, senior vice president of Mandalay Resort Group; $32,000

One of the few gaming executives who gave predominately to Democrats, Sloan contributed $10,000 to the Democratic National Committee, $2,000 to Kerry, $2,000 to Gephardt, and $1,000 each to Sen. Clinton and Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I.

Sloan also contributed $3,000 to the campaign of Democrat Tom Gallagher, a former gaming executive who challenged Porter. Sloan also played both sides, contributing $2,000 toward Porter's re-election efforts.

He also contributed $2,000 to President Bush.

Michael Gaughan, chairman of Coast Casinos; $19,500

Gaughan's largest contributions were to two congressional races -- $4,000 to Berkley and $4,000 to Rep. Ralph Regula, R-Ohio. He also contributed $2,000 each to the presidential campaigns of Bush and Gephardt.

Phil Satre, chairman of Harrah's Entertainment, $12,576

Now retired, Satre made separate $2,000 contributions to the presidential campaigns of Bush and Clark and to Reid, Gibbons and Berkley.

Don Snyder, president of Boyd Gaming Corp., $12,500

Snyder donated $5,500 to Boyd's political action committee and $2,000 to Bush.

Gary Loveman, president and chief executive officer of Harrah's Entertainment, $7,576

Now chairman of Harrah's, Loveman, a Massachusetts resident, donated $2,000 to Kerry, $2,000 to Reid and $2,000 to Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J.

Wally Barr, president of Caesars Entertainment; $4,500

Barr contributed $1,000 to the Bush campaign and $2,000 to Berkley. He also contributed $1,000 to LoBiondo's successful re-election efforts.