Question 2: Intolerance List from 2001 Las Vegas Bugle

This article appeared in the Las Vegas Bugle on Jan. 19, 2001 and at the bottom, there is a “retraction” (of sorts!). The article and accompanying lists, details how Richard Ziser used (mostly Mormon) fear and hatred of the unknown, to line his own pockets. In doing so, he helped  write discrimination into Nevada’s State Constitution.

By Dennis McBride
Two weeks ago a young man came into the Bugle office complaining about how the Question 2 campaign was conducted by his church. Dale Kimball [pseudonym] is a devout Mormon and gay man who’s enjoyed a loving relationship with another man for several years.

Kimball explained that many Mormons who disagree with their church’s position on same-sex marriage and even some who agree that marriage be restricted to heterosexuals are very angry with the often covert way the campaign was presented to them. Kimball was also upset with what he found in the public disclosure forms from the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage and wanted to speak out about it.

“I saw some folks in the list that I had [had] business transactions with, [people who] were personal friends or I knew their family,” Kimball says. “I don’t fault them for their viewpoints, but it bothers me when they want to take my money in a business transaction, but will turn around and do something that would be offensive and hurt me, or [their] friends, or [their] family.”

Of the dozens of names with whom Kimball was familiar from the Coalition’s disclosure papers, many have gay family members or other connections to the gay community. One donor has an identical twin brother who’s gay; the wife of another has a sister married to a successful lady attorney, and who just gave birth to a baby. One who donated a thousand dollars has a young son struggling to come out. There are gay daughters, cousins and nephews; one donor
himself even spent time in reparative therapy for “homosexual tendencies” before making a heterosexual marriage. Some who donated money to the campaign own businesses with gay employees. Many of those who supported Question 2 financially are professionals, doctors, lawyers, accountants whose paying clients include gay people.

 Those who gave money to the Coalition not only hurt thousands of innocent strangers, but have injured and divided their own families as well.

Many people called by their church representatives to donate to the Coalition do not agree with their church’s position on homosexuality and they must be appreciated for the emotional trauma they’ve endured. If these people have gay friends and family members, being forced to choose between their church and their loved ones is a deeply wrenching experience. Do they want to give money or effort to an organization that has stated its intention to hurt their loved ones? Their church says they should, their conscience says they should not. Yet they must make a decision, and decisions like this have consequences far beyond the immediate issue and far outside their church community. Does any religious institution have the moral or ethical right to pressure its congregations to make such choices? In the end, no one was directly forced to give, but when called upon to defend their church against a perceived enemy even if that perceived enemy is family the social and emotional pressure to do so is enormous.

Further, while many listed in the disclosure forms were willing to donate money in support of Question 2, they might not agree with Richard Ziser’s stated intent to fight all equal rights measures for gay people in Nevada. An article in the Nov. 9, 2000 edition of the Las Vegas Sun quotes Ziser as saying, “We’ll be active in the upcoming legislative session. There’s some anticipation that the other side may introduce legislation on a number of things.”

According to the same article, Ziser and his Coalition aide, anti-gay conservative Lucille Lusk, through their association with Nevada Concerned Citizens, will lobby against “any gay rights legislation” that should arise. These statements suggest the truth of what the gay community has been warning all along that the Coalition has an anti-gay agenda beyond the marriage issue.

Whether unused money collected by the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage will be used by Nevada Concerned Citizens or other right-wing, fundamentalist groups with which Coalition organizers are associated remains to be seen, although during the Question 2 campaign Richard Ziser’s company, RZ Management, was paid more than $100,000 by the Coalition for services rendered.

In addition to the possibility that Coalition money might be used in ways donors may not approve, it was the promised secrecy surrounding donations to the Coalition that especially angered Kimball.

“[Supporting Question 2] was presented to me in my congregation … under a code of secrecy if you made a donation,” he says. “And I’m looking at these piles of paper here and seeing [donors’ names] and address[es]. It bothered me. The secretiveness behind it. [Appeals to support Question 2 were made] over the pulpit. Or in an auxiliary meeting.

Donations weren’t requested over the pulpit. It was done more of a one-on-one, when a representative in your
congregation would come to you and talk to you about making a donation, [and] about how it would be kept confidential.”

Another LDS individual straight, devout, accepting of gay people and their issues verified Kimball’s claim. Although he did not contribute to the Coalition, he also was misled into believing that donations supporting Question 2 would be confidential, when, in fact, by law, donations of $100 or over require public disclosure. Who misled whom isn’t clear. Were church representatives misled by the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage, or did church representatives themselves knowingly mislead their congregations?

Most of the churches involved in support of Question 2 were careful to heed IRS restrictions on using church property to solicit and facilitate that support. According to Dale Kimball, for instance, one church on West Charleston Boulevard used a neighboring business property to conduct its support activities.

“On several occasions … the congregation was instructed that they could go next door to the AAA Auto Insurance property [at 3312 West Charleston to] sign the petition. And then they could likewise have their name notarized to verify who they were. Then also they could register to vote at that same off-church location,” he says. “They did it in the parking lot. With tables set up and chairs. I know that [the church has] a kind of a gentleman’s agreement about sharing parking during the weekdays at AAA’s operations. But on the weekends, the church can use their [entire] parking lot for parking. But as far as if they got permission to do that from AAA, that political campaign, is unknown to me. It would be interesting to investigate it to see if AAA knew what was going on while they were closed on Saturday and Sunday.”

In fact, the American Automobile Association not only offers domestic partner benefits to its employees, but includes sexual orientation in its employment non-discrimination policy.

According to a representative from AAA’s Diversity Board, if the company had been aware at the time of what was going on in its parking lot, it would not have allowed it.

Still another issue to consider is the huge amount of money collected in support of Question 2, most of which came in donations of $1000, $2000, and $5000. Could the $1.6 million dollars poured into the Coalition’s coffers have been better spent on more serious threats to Nevada families, such as hunger and homelessness?

“If someone gave us $5000,” says a representative of the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, “we would see that people had sufficient clothing, food, a place to stay, and introduce ’em to the Lord.” Meals at the Mission, which feeds 250 to 500 homeless each day, cost about $1.50 per person. The Mission houses around 80 men each night, as well as about 30 women and children.

At St. Vincent’s Shelter on Main Street one meal costs just 75›. $5000 would buy nearly 6,700 meals; $2000 would buy about 2,700 meals; and $1000 would feed 1,333 homeless people a day.

St. Vincent’s, incidentally, is operated by Catholic Charities, and Catholic Bishop Daniel Walsh discouraged Nevada Catholics from signing the Question 2 petition.

Dean Collins, contacted at Father Joe’s MASH Village, had a long list of what he could have done with the amount of money raised by the coalition. “We shelter 250 single men for four months during the coldest weather and we have to
feed them every night. When we run out of [donated] food, we have to go out and buy food. We have a crisis intervention center where over 1000 individuals come every day [looking for] jobs, job skill training, veterans services or to visit our welfare division. … Right now we’re in dire need of medical supplies for our clinic.”

Medical supplies cost MASH Village about $120,000 a year. $1.6 million the amount the Coalition raised in Nevada would keep MASH Village stocked with medical supplies for more than 10 years.

The disclosure forms released by the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage usually do not reveal the business or professional associations of the individuals who donated money businesses and professionals who accept money from gay people. These need to be identified so that gay people and those who support equal rights for them can make an informed choice about where to take their business. During a four-hour interview, Dale Kimball associated many of the more important names in the disclosure forms with their businesses and professions.

Identifications made by others have been added to the list provided by Kimball.  The publisher of the Las Vegas Bugle urges those in the gay community and their friends not to patronize these businesses, and not to vote for these politicians.
* * *
Affleck, Lynn – $200 – civil engineer [Affleck Enterprises, 4987 Idaho Avenue, LV, 431-4827]
Albright, George Vern and Barbara – $1000 – attorney [Albright, Stoddard, Warnick & Albright, 801 S. Rancho Dr., LV, 384-7111].  According to Dale Kimball, Albright, who once led a LDS congregation of single adults, “made it a point to identify individuals in his congregation that he thought were gay. And he would bring them in and talk to them. It was search-and-discovery, attorney type of [activity], when, in fact, he was an ecclesiastical leader.”
Albright, Doug and Megan – $500 – Doug is the son of George Vern Albright
AM or PM Towing and Recovery – $1000 – [705 Juniper Way, Boulder City, 293-9000 (John Smith)]
Andersen, Dr. David E. – $800 – audiologist [1811 S. Rainbow Blvd., LV, 233-4327]
Archibald, Brent and Harriet – $500 – accountant [Stewart, Archibald & Barney, 3025 West Sahara Ave., LV, 579-7000, 579-2571]
Ashworth, Don and Mary – $275 – attorney [Probate Commissioner for Clark County, brother of Robert Ashworth]
Ashworth, Robert and Janet – $500 – accountant [4625 Polaris Ave., LV, 734-0084]
Ballard, Mike – $1210 – public relations counselor [Ballard Communications, 1850 E. Flamingo Rd., LV, 836-3000]
Barney, Dr. Mac and Olivia – $1000 – dentist – [McLoyd Barney, DMD, 3317 W. Charleston Blvd., LV, 878-0355]
Barton, Dr. Richard – $940 – dentist [Sunset Dental, 600 Whitney Ranch Dr., #18, Henderson, 456-1147]
Beneficial Life Insurance [see Zockoll]
Bertoldo, John and Heather – $1000 – attorney – [Benson, Bertoldo & Baker, 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., LV, 228-2600]
Bigler, Dr. Gregory – $2000 – MD [8551 W. Lake Mead Blvd, 255-4577; 3121 S. Maryland Parkway, LV, 732-3212]
Bingham, Jay and Fran – $2500; $5000; $800 in-kind – former Clark County Commissioner and Las Vegas Mayor candidate
Blaser Construction – $500 – [10345 W. Regena Ave., LV, 655-8780]
Bohne, James and Diane – $1500 – [partners in Larkin Plumbing & Heating (see Larkin, Wayne and Melanie)]
Bolick, Robert – $1000 – attorney [6060 W. Elton Avenue, LV, 870-6060]
Bowler, Richard and Gloria – $25000 – accountant [Piercy, Bowler, Taylor & Kern, 6100 Elton Ave., LV, 384-1120 (see Piercy)] * see correction article which follows
Bowman, Dr. Gregory – $2000 – dentist [Lakes Family Dentistry, 2764 Lake Sahara Dr., #107,
LV, 363-8001]
Boy Scouts of America, Boulder Dam Area Council, Inc. – appear on the Coalition’s vendor list [1135 University Road, LV, 736-4366]
Brady, Bill and Cindy – $2000 – maintenance and janitorial services [Brady Industries, 4174 Arville St., LV, 876-3990 (see Kyle and Julia Stephens)] Former Nevada state legislator Bill Brady played a major role in the Nevada Citizens Alliance’s 1994 effort to pass the notoriously anti-gay Minority Status and Child Protection Act.
Brady, Travis and Laura – $1000 – [son of Bill Brady]
Broadbent, Bob and Sue – $1000; $1500; $800 in-kind – consultant [Broadbent & Associates, Inc., 8 West Pacific Ave., Henderson, 563-0600; Broadbent & Walker, Inc., 833 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, 985-1773; Broadbent is the former Clark County Aviation Director at McCarran Airport and the president of Las Vegas Transit Systems Management, the consulting firm for the non-profit Las Vegas Monorail Company (see Swarts, George C.; see Walker, Cam and Michelle)]
Bulloch, Howard and Cristi – $200; $500; $1000 – land developer [New World LLC land development company; planning a major gaming property on 77 acres across the Strip from Mandalay Bay; also a principal in Desert Land LLC, which donated $1000 to the Coalition]
Bulloch, Randy and Robyn – $1000 – [brother of Howard Bulloch]
Bullock, James R. – $500 – accountant [5280 S. Eastern Ave., LV, 736-6555]
Bunker Indoor Golf Center – $1000 – [2500 E. Second Avenue, Reno]
Callister, Marco – $10,000 – [Marco Callister is the mother of Matt Callister, former Las Vegas city councilman; and of Mara Meservy (see Meservy, Dennis and Mara)]
Callister & Reynolds – $1500 – attorneys [823 S. Las Vegas Blvd., LV, 385-3343]
Cameron, Dr. Bruce – $2000 – dentist, son of Elwyn Cameron, nephew of Ed Smith [931 S. Decatur Blvd., LV, 870-2890 (see Smith, Ed)]
Cameron, Dr. [D.] Elwyn – $400 – dentist [807 S. Seventh Street, LV, 382-6454]
Canfield, Dr. Stephen and Anita [Brooks] – $5000 – [Steven Canfield, DDS, 8084 W. Sahara Ave., LV, 255-0119; Anita Brooks Design Associates Co., 680 Pilot Rd., LV, 263-1330; Anita Canfield also writes motivational books on women’s issues for the Deseret Book Company]
Christiansen, Dr. David – $950 – MD [2020 Goldring Ave., LV, 382-0900]
Christiansen, Dr. Don and LoraDee – $3000 – MD FACS [3196 S. Maryland Parkway, LV, 735-2305]
Christiansen, Paul – $250 – [former Clark County Commissioner]
Conk, Phil – $300 – [Country Inn restaurants, LV (three locations)]
Custom Ornamental Iron – $500 [3082 Sheridan, LV, 876-8775]
Cutler, Blanche – $5000 – [Cutler Insurance, 2481 N. Decatur Blvd, LV, 646-1031, 877-4000]
Dahl, Harvey and Margaret – $200 – Dahl is a prominent northern Nevada rancher and one of the most notable movers behind the Shovel Brigade in Elko County’s Jarbidge Canyon road controversy.
Davis, Jeff – $5000 – [Davis Nursery, 2700 E. Bonanza Rd., LV, 384-2187]
Davis, Larry and Donna – $1000 – [Davis Nursery, 2700 E. Bonanza Rd., LV, 384-2187]
Desert Diecutting – $500 – [4851 W. Hacienda, #5, LV, 895-9688]
Desert Land LLC – $1000 – [7475 W. Sahara Ave., LV; the principal in this company is Howard Bulloch, a partner in New World LLC, the land development company currently planning a major gaming development on 77 acres across from the Mandalay Bay Hotel]
Dirk, Carla – $200 – accountant [2711 E. Craig Rd., #F, LV, 639-1800]
Down to Earth Landscaping – $2000 – [PO Box 13199, LV, 89112]
Dyches, Dr. Timothy – $2000 – [236 W. Sixth Street, Reno]
Dye, Dr. Dave and Jane – $1000 – [1231 E. Charleston Blvd., LV, 385-5075]
Earl, Dr. Robert – $500 – dentist [5320 W. Sahara Ave., LV, 871-4990]
Ellsworth, Moody & Bennion, Cht. – $500 – law firm [3650 N. Rancho Rd., LV, 658-6100 (see Moody, Todd and Dee)]
Ence Dental Laboratory – $500 [5280 S. Eastern Ave., suite C2, LV, 739-9778]
Evans, John and Stephanie – $1000 – insurance agent; son of Earl and Joanne Evans [1313 Arville St., LV, 258-1936]
Evans, Earl and Joanne – $250 [Earl died about two years ago]
Eversole, Dr. Gary – $250 – chiropractor [Eversole Chiropractic, Inc., 6620 W. Flamingo Rd., Suite 8, LV, 876-3300]
Ewell, Larry and Ginger – $1000 – The Ewells sponsor bus tours to such historical LDS sites Nauvoo and Palmyra, New York, and are associated with Carlson Wagonlit Travel [see the yellow pages under Travel Agencies & Bureaus for Carlson; also check www.latterdaytours.com]
Fieldstead & Company – $10,000 – ? [a California enterprise, PO Box 18679, Irvine, CA, 92623]
First City Capital of Nevada – $500 – mortgage broker [4505 W. Hacienda, #G; 4965 Harrison Drive, LV, 257-0155]
Foutz, Dr. Barton and JoAnne – $2000 – dentist [4530 S. Eastern Ave., suite 4, LV, 792-5929]
Frehner Family – Alfred and Susan, $200; Dan and Judith, $250; Floyd and Lolita, $10,000; Rex and Shirley, $500; Shawn and Sarah, $300 [Frehner Construction Company, Inc., 4040 Frehner Rd., LV, 649-6250; Frehner Trucking Service, Inc., 124 W. Brooks Ave., LV, 649-2397; Judith Frehner is the mother of David Brown, who unseated Gene Segerblom from Assembly District 22 last year with a very dirty campaign]
Gibson, Jim and Loralee – $1000 – American Pacific Corporation, formerly PEPCON [3770 Howard Hughes Parkway, LV, 735-2200 (Jim is the mayor of Henderson, Nevada; the James I. Gibson library in Henderson is named for his father)]
Glade, Steven – $150 – attorney [626 S. Third Street, LV, 384-0111]
Grasteit, Neil and Cammie – $5000 – Preferred Motors & Marine [PO Box 2442, Fallon, Nevada]
Grasteit, Kay – $1000 – [3275 Rogers Road, Fallon, NV, 89406]
Green Valley Pools, Inc. – $500 – [12 Sunset Way, Henderson, 898-0066 (the disclosure forms list an address at 4045 E. Post Rd., LV)]
Gubler, John – $850 – attorney [302 Carson Avenue, LV, 382-4343]
Hafen, Andy and Debra – $250 – Henderson City Councilman
Hafen, Andy for Council – $500
Hale, Dr. Blair and Norma – $1000 – dentist [5660 W. Flamingo Rd., LV, 871-4903]
Hall, Ashley and Lorna – $1000; $6000 in-kind – Ashley Hall is a former Las Vegas City Manager. According to Dale Kimball, Hall, as bishop of a LDS singles ward, conducted a witch hunt against those in the ward whom he perceived to be gay.
Hardy, Dr. Joe and Jill – $1000 – MD [895 Adams Boulevard, Boulder City, 293-0406 (Hardy is also a Boulder City councilman)]
Haycock, Barbara and Douglas – $250 – petroleum product distributors [Haycock Petroleum Company, 715 W. Bonanza Rd., LV, 382-1620]
Haycock, Colleen – $200
Hirschi, Bill and Amy – $2500 – [Hirschi Masonry, Inc., 4120 Losee Rd., North Las Vegas, 657-8440]
Hoffman, Scott – $500 – Hoffman Agency, Inc., insurance broker [1000 Green Valley Parkway, #450, Henderson, 897-1000]
Holt, Barry – $250 – member of the Nevada Public Utilities Commission
Huffaker, Judge Stephen L. and JoAnne – $2000 – Huffaker is judge for Nevada District Court Department 9 [455-4666; fax, 455-2262]
Hutchison & Steffan – $5600 – attorneys [Mark A. Hutchison/John Steffan, 8831 W. Sahara Ave., LV, 385-2500, 838-2980, 869-1098]
Hyer, Dr. Dodd and Zan – $500 ; $2000 – anesthesiologist [501 S. Rancho Rd., LV, 386-4700 (Zan is the daughter of Anna Peterson, LDS coordinator for the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage in Nevada, who also worked on Governor Kenny Guinn’s election campaign; see Grant and Anna Peterson and Clark Peterson)]
Kelly, Dr. G. Timothy – $500 – [7200 Cathedral Rock, #110, LV, 341-5444]
Kirk, Steven and Amy – $125 – Henderson City Councilman
Lakes Family Dentistry [see Bowman, Dr. Gregory]
Larkin, Melanie – $1000
Larkin, Wayne and Melanie – $1000 – plumbers [Wayne, Mark, and Daniel Larkin, and James
Bohne own Larkin Plumbing & Heating Co., 1801 Industrial Rd., LV, 382-2410, 871-9151 (Ed Smith is Melanie Larkin’s father-in-law; see Smith, Ed)]
Larsen, Dr. Karl and Susan – $1000 – optometrist [7324 W Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas, 642-5900; 1703 Civic Center Dr., North Las Vegas, 642-5900. Karl Larsen is also on the Board of Directors of Signature Productions (878-7529), the LDS group that produces “wholesome” family entertainment at the Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center. Many of the actors, crew, and technical personnel who make Signature Productions successful are gay. (see Nelson, Erv and Lisa; see Oblad, John and Shauna)]
Layton, Don and Coleen – $600 – accountant [606 S. Ninth Street, LV, 384-1995]
Leaver, Dr. Robert and Mary – $300 – orthodontist [4610 Meadows Lane, LV, 878-0764]
Leavitt Insurance Agency – $1000; $1500 – [823 S. Sixth Street, LV, 382-4010]
Lewis Construction Company [Lewis, Paul and Lou Jeanne] – $2000 – [PO Box 16. Moapa, Nevada, 89025]
Livingston, Gary – $400 – pharmacist [Red Rock Medical Pharmacy, 6625 W. Sahara Ave., suite 10, LV, 876-2627]
Lowe, Bryan – $1000 – attorney [Bryan A. Lowe & Associates, 916 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, 293-6888; 4011 Meadows Lane, LV, 259-0002]
Mainor, Randall – $7,000 – attorney [Mainor & Harris, 530 S. Sixth St., LV, 385-1400]
Maxfield, Chip and Kathy – $500 – civil engineer; Clark County Commissioner [Chip is executive vice president of Southwest Engineering, Inc., 3610 N. Rancho Rd., LV, 648-9700]
Meads, Mike – $200 – [ValRey Homes by Mike Meads Construction, 51 E. Calvada Blvd., Pahrump, NV, 89048]
Meads, Russell – $300 – [Russell A. Meads Construction, 2860 S. Oakleaf, Pahrump, NV, 89048]
Mendenhall Smith, Inc. [Greg Mendenhall] – $500 – structural engineer [3571 Red Rock St., suite A, LV, 367-6725]
Meservy, Dennis and Mara [Callister] – $500 – accountant [819 S. Las Vegas Blvd., LV, 385-7080 (see Callister, Marco; see Callister & Reynolds)]
Micronet Software – $500 – computer software and services [8635 W. Sahara Ave., #484; 3086 Blue Monaco St., LV, 838-7093]
Milford, Mark – $250 – automobile repair [Milford Automotive, 1615 N. Decatur Blvd., LV, 647-7979]
Montandon, Mike – $1000 – North Las Vegas mayor
Moody, Todd and Dee – $300 – attorney – [3650 N. Rancho Dr., LV, 658-6100 (see Ellsworth, Moody & Bennion, Chtd.)]
Nelson, Erv and Lisa – $1200 – attorney [7401 W. Charleston Blvd., LV, 384-7000; Lisa Nelson is involved with Signature Productions (see Larsen, Dr. Karl and Susan; see Oblad, John and Shauna)]
Nelson, Dr. Erv and Frankie – $200 – ophthalmologist; father of Erv Nelson [3802 Meadows Lane, LV, 870-2020)]
Nelson, Dr. Guy W. – $840 – dentist [4015 E. Sunset Road, Henderson, 456-7818]
Nisson, Dr. Robert [Nisson Professional Corp.]- $500 – dentist – [2281 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, 454-0818]
Noorda, Dr. Carey and Cindy – $1000 – orthodontist [1701 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, 732-2141]
Oak Creek Lawn & Landscape – $1000 – [3041 Clover Street, LV, NV, 89117]
Oblad, John and Shauna – $250 – Shauna Oblad is involved with Signature Productions [see Larsen, Dr. Karl and Susan ; see Nelson, Erv and Lisa]
O’Donnell, Bill, Campaign to Elect – $2000 – Nevada State Senator, District 5. O’Donnell vehemently opposed repeal of Nevada’s sodomy law in 1993.
Patchett, Michael – $570 – accountant [3025 W. Sahara, #200, 579-7000]
Peterson, Grant and Anna – $255.88 in-kind – Anna is the mother of Clark Peterson and Zan Hyer. According to Dale Kimball, it was Will Stoddard who recommended Anna Peterson be the LDS liason for Question 2. Peterson received a telephone call from Marlon K. Jensen, a member of the First Quorum of 70, in Salt Lake City, “and any calling from that level of [church] administration would be looked upon … as a thing a person should do,” Kimball says.
Peterson, Clark – $3000 – president of Nextel Communications [750 E. Warm Springs Rd., LV, 614-5600; 3610 S. Highland Dr., LV, 873-5000]; son of Anna Peterson; sister of Zan Hyer
Piercy, Ralph and Lynn – $1000 – accountant [Piercy, Bowler, Taylor & Kern, 6100 Elton Ave., LV, 384-1120 (see Bowler, Richard and Gloria)]
Preferred Motors & Marine [see Grasteit, Neil and Cammie]
Prestige Electric, Inc. – $1000 – electric contractors [5725 S. Valley View Blvd., LV, 221-9778]
R & R Backhoe – $1000 – excavating contractors [4660 S. Eastern Ave., suite 208, LV, 454-3339]
Ralphs, George – attorney [see Van & Ralphs, Chtd.]
Rawlings, Henry “Hank” and Rosalie – $1080 – attorney [Rawlings, Olson, Cannon, Gormley & Desruisseaux, 301 Clark Ave., LV, 384-4012]
Rebar Machine Service, Inc. – $1000 [5935 Emerald Avenue, 454-8688]
Red Rock Medical Pharmacy [ see Livingston, Gary]
Retirement Advantage [see Zockoll]
Ripplinger, Dr. Gregg and Diane – $1000 – dentist – [98 E. Lake Mead Dr., Henderson, 565-0050; 999 Adams Blvd., Boulder City, 293-0602]
Rooker, Keith – $750 – attorney [Rooker & Gibson, 701 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, 990-8100]
Seastrand, Douglas and Margaret – $250 – [Douglas Seastrand sits on the University of Nevada Board of Regents; his father was James Seastrand, former mayor of North Las Vegas]
Seastrand, Scott and Lora – $250 – [brother of Douglas Seastrand]
Sierra Dental Ceramics – $200 – [2815 S. Rainbow Blvd., LV, 252-7260]
Sign Designs – $1250 in-kind – sign maker [5234 Procyon St., LV, 798-7090]
Simister, Dr. Kent and Patsy – $1000 – dentist [4610 Meadows Lane, LV, 878-7700]
Simpson, Tryge and Tammy – $300 – builders [Wasatch Builders, Inc., 5960 Wasatch Ridge Circle, LV, 656-5520]
Smith, Ed – $27,000 – M. J. Christiansen Jewelers [Christiansen-Smith Family Corp., 856 E. Sahara Ave., LV, 732-0136; Meadows Mall; Forum Shops at Caesars; Galleria at Sunset]; Little Church of the West [4617 S. Las Vegas Blvd., LV, 739-7971]; Nevada Pic-a-Part (5090 N. Lamb Blvd., LV, 643-1870 and 110 West Rolly Street, Henderson, 565-1414]; Abbie’s Recycling Center [6351 Vegas Valley Dr., LV, 457-8077]; Silver Dollar Recyling, Inc. [3870 Losee Rd., North Las Vegas, 642-9485 and 5000 Range Rd., LV, 643-7711] [see Cameron, Dr. Bruce; see Larkin, Melanie]
Smith, J. Fraser [see Mendenhall Smith Inc.]
Southwest Chiropractic – $300 – [4680 S. Eastern Ave., #B, LV, 454-4336]
Southwest Spine & Sportscare Centers [see Southwest Chiropractic]
Stephens, Kyle and Julia – $1000 – Brady Industries executive [see Brady, Bill and Cindy]
Stewart, Kenneth – $3000 – Stewart & Sundell Concrete [1760 W. Brooks Ave., LV, 647-3723]
Stewart & Sundell Concrete [see Stewart, Kenneth]
Stoddard, Will and Carol – $1000 – attorney [Albright, Stoddard, Warnick & Albright, 801 S. Rancho Dr., LV, 384-7111]
Stokes, Dr. Jeffrey and Sandra – $340 – dentist [53 E. Lake Mead Dr., Henderson, 566-4133]
Stolworthy, Kevin and Teri – $1100 – attorney [3773 Howard Hughes Parkway, LV, 734-2220]
Sunset Dental [see Barton, Dr. Richard]
Sunstone Dental Care – $2000 – [Bradley Welch and Greg Welch, 1701 Green Valley Parkway, Bldg. 7, suite A, Henderson, 837-6555]
Swainston, Dr. Darin – $2400 – MD [1950 Pinto Lane, LV, 385-3000]
Swan, Matthew [Matthew H. Swan & Associates; Swan & Gardiner, LLC] – $1000 – accountant [7456 W. Sahara Ave., #101, LV, 869-9700; 7464 W. Sahara Ave., LV, 869-9800]
Swarts, George C. – $1000 – accountant [5851 W. Charleston Blvd., LV, 870-8663; Swarts was recenty accused of conflict of interest in a multi-million dollar loan deal with Vestin Mortgage; Swarts is also Bob Broadbent’s brother-in-law (see Broadbent, Bob and Sue; see Walker, Cam and Michelle)]
Tate, George – $400 – architect [5280 S. Eastern Ave., LV, 736-3433]
Thomas, Dr. Steven and Karen – $3500 – MD [Steven is a son of E. Parry Thomas, founder of Valley Bank, which is now the Bank of America; it’s interesting to note that it was Valley Bank which, in 1991, loaned Richard Ziser, spokesperson and guiding light of the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage in Nevada, $375,000 to move his gaming token production business from California to Las Vegas; 331 N. Buffalo Dr., LV, 933-9393; 701 S. Tonopah Dr., LV, 388-1008]
Thresher, Dr. Alfred – $1000 – dentist [222 S. Rainbow Blvd., #203, LV, 254-4335]
Van Alstyne, Phillip – attorney – [see Van & Ralphs, Chtd.]
Van & Ralphs, Chtd. – $500 – law firm [1336 S. Decatur Blvd., #A; 1346 S. Decatur Blvd., LV, 870-1559]
Wagner, Dr. Wade and Michelle – $600 – dentist [Wade, Wayne, and Woodrow Wagner, 4618 Meadows Lane, LV, 877-2222]
Wagner, Woodrow – $500
Walker, Cam and Michelle – $500 – Walker is an officer with Las Vegas Transit Systems Management, the consulting firm behind the non-profit Las Vegas Monorail Company, where Walker is Chief Operating Officer; Walker is also the son-in-law of Las Vegas Transit Systems president, Bob Broadbent [see Broadbent, Bob and Sue; see Swarts, George C. ]
Warthen, Merrill and Janice – $2100 – Warthen Buick automobile dealership [3025 E. Sahara Ave., LV, 457-0353]
Warthen, Norma – $100; $1000
Warthen, Russel – $150; $1000 [also $200 through Warthen Family Partnership and $5250 through John E. Warthen Family Trust] Wasatch Builders, Inc. [see Simpson]
Waters, Neal L. – $500 – insurance [1850 E. Flamingo Rd., #200; 2860 E. Flamingo Rd., LV, 796-2031]
Welch, Dr. Bradley [see Sunstone Dental Care]
Whiting, Phil and Diane – $1000 – Diane Whiting is a designer [Design Showcase Interiors, Inc. (DSI), 3585 E. Patrick Lane, LV, 597-0712]. Her son owns Mixed Media Advertising LLC and Mixed Media II, which share the same Patrick Lane address as DSI [434-8184, 796-8282]
Whitaker, Brian – $500 – attorney [301 Clark Ave., LV, 384-4012]
Willardsen, Dr. James A. – $1500 – dentist [6440 W. Flamingo Rd., 876-8505]]
Wiser Construction LLC – $4000 – [PO Box 106, Moapa, Nevada, 89040, 702-864-2510]
Woodbury, Bruce and Rose – $970 – attorney; Clark County Commissioner [partner in Jolley, Urga, Wirth & Woodbury at 1000 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, 293-3674 and 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, LV, 699-7500; in 1999 Bruce Woodbury was the only Clark County Commissioner to publicly oppose domestic partner benefits for county employees, questioning whether the county should recognize relationships not recognized by the state or federal government]
Worthen, Dick and LaRue – $2000 – appliance distributors [Dick Worthen Distributing, 2123 W. Bonanza Rd., LV, 646-8885 (Worthen distributes air conditioning units)]
Zockoll, Christopher & Associates – $400 – insurance [320 E. Warm Springs Rd., LV, 837-0048 (phone answered as Beneficial Life Insurance); 4520 S. Pecos Rd., LV, #2, 454-8404 (phone answered as Retirement Advantage)]

This retraction was printed in the May 11, 01 edition
Bugle apologizes
for accounting error

By Rob Schlegel, Publisher of Las Vegas Bugle

In the January 19, 2001 issue of the Las Vegas Bugle, an extensive list of contributors to the “Coalition to Protect Marriage” was printed and it contained an error concerning Richard and Gloria Bowler. The Bugle listed major donors who contributed money to pass a statewide ballot initiative, known as “Question 2.”

Due to a typographical error, it was reported the Bowlers contributed $25,000 to the Coalition. Richard Bowler is a partner in the accounting firm of Piercy, Bowler, Taylor and Kern. The amount should have been $2,500, which was contributed on Sept. 11, 2000. Earlier, the couple contributed $150, for a total of $2,650 – not $25,000.

While there were several thousand contributors to the anti-gay, Coalition to Protect Marriage, the Bugle only listed a few dozen individuals and families who made the largest contributions. We also had the audacity of disclosing their business affiliations. This has upset many business owners who allege they were told their donations would be kept confidential – contrary to Nevada law.

The Bugle has received several phone calls and e-mails about the Bowler’s alleged $25,000 contribution. Many charitable organizations and businesses wish to no longer associate with the accounting firm because of their financial efforts to help deny equal rights to Nevada’s gay men and lesbians.

The Bugle apologizes for the error but would like to point out there were other contributors from the same accounting firm not listed in the original article. Senior partner, L. Ralph Piercy donated $1,000 on Aug. 29, 2000 and Kelly G. Parker, another partner, donated $500 on Aug. 3, 2000.

While the total of $4,150 from Piercy, Bowler, Taylor and Kern’s partners pales in comparison to the known $29,000 donated by the Smith and Larkin families, the money helped Richard Ziser and his “Coalition to Protect Marriage” amass a war chest of over $1.7 million.

That money went into a PAC (Political Action Committee fund). Question 2 easily passed last November when the Coalition raised 57 times more money than Equal Rights Nevada – the group organized to oppose the anti-gay ballot initiative.

Despite Ziser siphoning off several hundred thousand dollars for himself and his business (some of it used for “payroll services” which kept employee names secret), the Coalition is left with nearly a million dollars. That money has already been used to defeat the Family Fairness bill in the Nevada legislature. AB496, introduced by Assembly Member David Parks, would have given unmarried couples the right to visit their partner in the hospital, the right to make funeral arrangements and other basic legal rights for couples who entered into a legal, “declaration of reciprocal beneficiary relationship” agreement.

Now, Ziser and his Coalition are attempting to defeat the “Safe Schools Bill,” also introduced by Parks, which would require Nevada public schools to offer an environment where all students are respected and safe – and free from harassment based on sexual orientation.

We hope that the Smith and Larkin families – owners of M.J. Christensen Jewelers, several wedding chapels (Little Chapel of the West, Wee Kirk O’ the Heather and the Candlelight Wedding Chapel), Nevada Pick-A-Part, Abbie’s Recycling Center, Silver Dollar Recycling and Larkin Plumbing – are proud to be part coalition which is really about hate.

The Bugle invites its readers and friends to download a list of businesses who have contributed to hatred in Nevada. Sadly, we must still include the Bowlers. Visit our website at www.lvbugle.com. By “clicking” on the Question 2 icon in the upper left corner of the Bugle’s home page, visitors can download a copy of the original article – with the correction, of course.

We hope the customers of Piercy, Bowler, Taylor and Kern forgive us for our “accounting error” but also remember their accountant’s bottom line is about intolerance for others.