“This poll only confirms what we have known all along,” said Tarkanian. “Nevadans are tired of the same old policies in Washington that have crushed our economy and they want new leadership. I am confident in my candidacy as we approach November 6, but my campaign and I will continue to work for each and every remaining vote. It is vital that we get out the vote in this last week.”

The Review-Journal poll  conducted by Survey USA had Tarkanian leading his opponent 47-42. It is clear; Nevadans want a leader like Danny Tarkanian who will bring common-sense solutions to Washington. The poll showed Tarkanian receiving 92% of the Republican vote, and highlighted Horsford’s significant troubles shoring up his base. Only 77% of Democrats in the poll supported Horsford. With exactly one week to go, it is the fifth poll to show Tarkanian with a lead.

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“My opponent’s actions speak for themselves on why he has no business serving in Washington,” said Tarkanian. “Steven Horsford exemplifies why taxpayers are losing faith in their elected representatives and has already demonstrated that he is not capable of helping lead our nation back to prosperity. Horsford has a history of abusing his position as an elected representative for personal gain, while the people he is supposed to be helping suffer. As the representative for Nevada’s 4th Congressional District, I will not stand for this type of preferential treatment towards special interests at the cost of the taxpayers.”

Steven Horsford’s fiefdom of government waste was highlighted in Nevada Policy Research Institute’s “The Nevada Piglet Book 2012”. [1] Horsford is one of the report’s main subjects for his abusive practice of funneling federal money to his personal interests, while the people he was supposed to be helping suffered. The report says, “while those involved in this political machine grew richer, unemployed Nevadans saw little benefit from the training programs offered by Workforce Connections and its private contractor.” [2]

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[1] Lahontan Valley News, October 24, 2012.

[2] Nevada Policy Research Institute, “The Nevada Piglet Book 2012”.

“This is despicable and shoddy journalism at its finest,” said Tarkanian. “To have the Las Vegas Sun target my brother’s bankruptcy for political purposes is absolutely disgusting. My brother has been afflicted by a rare and life threatening illness. Due to the medical care he requires to stay alive, he has amassed bills he cannot pay. To watch him fight everyday against his debilitating disease is one of the many inspirations in my life. I will not stand for political attacks regarding his condition. It is unprofessional, unethical, and a new low from my detractors.”

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“Today, Steven Horsford and his campaign showed a new sense of desperation and panic,” said Tarkanian. “It is disappointing and disturbing that Senator Reid believes he decides Congressional elections, not the voters of Nevada’s 4th Congressional District. Apparently, Steven Horsford believes that having Senator Reid mislead the voters about the circumstances regarding my family’s personal affairs will cause Nevadans to look past his failed record as State Senate Majority leader, numerous ethical failures, and lack of ideas to help get the people of Nevada back to work.”

“The fact is several individuals and myself were part of an investment group that was defrauded by an individual and a bank in a real estate deal gone bad. This has happened to thousands of Americans as a result of the economic recession, especially here in Nevada. We are currently letting the legal process run its course and are engaged in settlement discussions as we await the appeals process. We feel very confident that either via settlement, or on appeal that we will have a favorable outcome. Contrary to Senator Reid’s statements, I have no plans to file bankruptcy.”

Harry Reid has had a lengthy political and financial relationship with Horsford and will stop at nothing to see his heir reach Washington.

·After Horsford hosted a lunch for Reid at the Culinary Training Academy (where Horsford is CEO), Reid said he would “do anything [he could] to help [Horsford],” and that someday Horsford might “get [Reid’s] job”.[1]
·Senator Reid has provided $476,000 in earmark funding for Horsford’s company Nevada Partners.[2]
·Senator Reid has given more than $7,000 to Steven Horsford and his Political Action Committee (PAC).
·Horsford and his PAC have given $5,500 to Senator Reid’s campaign.

Steven Horsford’s attempt to utilize Senator Reid’s supposed influence shows the desperation of the Horsford Campaign. Nevadans will not tolerate this form of political nepotism. America was built on the sanctity and integrity of its political institutions and its elected leaders. Danny Tarkanian will work to protect the legitimacy of those institutions and will not back down from those who do not feel similarly.

[1]Las Vegas Review Journal, August 29, 2008
[2]Nevada Appeal, March 11, 2009

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“The most recent poll shows that the voters in Nevada are focused on electing a leader who has solutions to solve the issues that matter to them,” said Tarkanian. “I am confident going into the final stretch of this election, but by no means will my campaign or I let up. We will continue to meet with people around the district and let them know that their concerns over jobs, Medicare, and the economy are not falling on deaf ears.”

The most recent poll conducted by NMB research shows Tarkanian with a decisive 13 point advantage over his opponent. It is the fourth poll in a row to show Tarkanian with a commanding lead.

The poll results followed another strong debate performance by Tarkanian last night, and explains the increasingly desperate attacks by Horsford’s campaign. In last night’s debate, Steven Horsford failed to provide answers on how to fix the economy or get Nevadans back to work. Instead, Horsford concentrated on misrepresenting Danny’s positions. Tarkanian presented the voters with concrete and substantive solutions to turn around Nevada’s unemployment rate and defend senior’s Medicare and Social Security.

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“Steven Horsford does not think the law applies to him,” said Tarkanian. “His blatant disregard for following the rules both in his time in the Senate and as part of a non-profit is extremely disturbing. His quest to have the taxpayers fund his private endeavors is an offensive and worrisome pattern of behavior. If he can do this on the state level, there is no telling what he will do in Washington.”

During Steven Horsford’s time in the State Senate, he has exerted his influence on numerous boards and in the legislature for personal financial gain.

· Horsford currently serves as Chief Executive Officer at the Culinary Training Academy (CTA) where he has worked in that capacity since 2001.

· Over that same time period, Horsford has utilized his position on Nevada Partners, a nonprofit, where he served as President and Executive Director and currently serves on the board, to direct taxpayer dollars to CTA.

· These very tax dollars were then utilized to pay Mr. Horsford’s exorbitant salary.

· Horsford was paid a six-figure salary for part time work at CTA. In 2008, Horsford was paid more than $156,000 to work 19 hours a week.

· All of this while Nevada’s unemployment rate was skyrocketing.

· Making this all the more unbelievable is that as State Senate Majority Leader, Horsford orchestrated a $781 million tax increase that found its way to nonprofits such as Nevada Partners and the CTA.[1]

· In order to vote on this increase, Horsford suspended ethics rules against conflicts of interest in the State Senate.[2]

· Just as egregious and blatant was the fact that twice, in 2003 and 2010, Horsford advocated Clark County to impose a tax on rental cars where a chunk of the revenues would go directly to fund the CTA.[3]

Nevada Partners & the Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board (SNWIB)

· Horsford currently serves on the board of Nevada Partners and was previously the President and Executive Director.

· From avenues such as the Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board (SNWIB), Horsford was able to secure millions in Federal, state, and local tax dollars for Nevada Partners.

· However, money regularly changes hands between Nevada Partners and the Culinary Training Academy, an entity that pays Horsford a substantial salary.

· The catch is that Horsford was a member of the SNWIB until 2004, when amidst numerous incidents regarding questionable ethics practices pertaining to his position on the board and relationship with Nevada Partners he was forced to resign.[4]

· However, he made sure his time on the board was financially fruitful to his own interests.

· While Horsford sat on the board, he saw SNWIB award $3.4 million dollars in grants to his nonprofit, Nevada Partners, where he served as President and Executive Director.[5]

· Horsford’s payoff wasn’t up yet, through 2006, SNWIB had donated $10.4 million to Nevada Partners and from 2006 to 2008 SNWIB gave an additional $4.3 million to Nevada Partners.[6]

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“Once again we see that Steven Horsford plays by his own set of rules,” said Tarkanian. “To pay yourself that type of salary with taxpayer dollars, only to work part time is embarrassing. Especially, when the country was going through one of the worst economic recessions in our lifetimes. Horsford does not understand how to help the people of Nevada. He has continuously shown he places his own interests before the interests of others.”

When thousands of Nevadans were struggling to make ends meet, Steven Horsford was working part time and cashing in on a six figure salary. During his time as State Senate Majority Leader, Steven Horsford watched the state’s unemployment rate double, while making more than $156,000 to work 19 hours a week at the Culinary Training Academy. To put it in perspective, the average hourly wage in Las Vegas is $19.85. Steven Horsford used taxpayer dollars to fund his average hourly wage of $158.40, which is almost eight times the average.

At CTA, where Horsford serves as CEO, he has touted his abilities as a job creator. Yet in the State Senate, Steven Horsford was unable to create solutions to help the majority of Nevadans find work. However, he was able to help out one person; himself. Nevadans do not need another self serving politician in Washington.

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“It is imperative that we get the people of this district back to work,” said Tarkanian. “Everyone who wants a job should be able to work. The sad reality is that during my opponent’s tenure in the state legislature, the unemployment rate in our state has doubled, and too many people who want to work have been denied the opportunity to do so. Changes need to be made and my common-sense solutions will bring real change to Washington.”

The television advertisement highlights Tarkanian’s focus on job creation. As a small business owner himself, Danny understands what Nevadans need. He will work to limit the role of government and is committed to not raising taxes. Tarkanian is the leader Nevadans can trust to bring jobs back to the 4th District.

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