A fundraiser for lieutenant governor candidate Robert Randazzo scheduled for Dec. 10 was canceled after questions were raised about the sponsorship of the event by Paul Masto, husband of the attorney general.

A new fundraiser has now been scheduled for Randazzo for Dec. 16, without Paul Masto’s name attached. Instead, the invitation was sent by Tom Morley, political director of the Laborers’ International Union Local 872.

The $1,000 per person fund-raiser is being held at the same location as the canceled event and could occur at the same time a trial is under way on whether Krolicki improperly managed a college savings program while serving as state treasurer.

A Clark County District Court judge is expected to rule next week on whether to dismiss the charges against Krolicki prior to the scheduled start of his trial on Dec. 14.

Nevada State Republican Party Chairman Chris Comfort said the new invitation does not disguise the fact that the attorney general is still involved in the event.

“Catherine Cortez Masto and her friends are so arrogant that they change a few words on an invite and pretend this is no longer about Catherine Cortez Masto,” Comfort said. “The event is hosted by Catherine’s husband and Catherine’s top donors, and it underscores her personal and partisan crusade to destroy Brian Krolicki.

“Catherine Cortez Masto’s political stunts continue to erode public trust in her and in the judicial system,” he said.

The laborers’ union did support Masto in her first campaign for attorney general, contributing $1,000 in 2006.

But Ronni Council, campaign manager for Randazzo, said Comfort should check his facts before issuing a press release. The attorney general was never involved in the first fundraiser, which was canceled, she said. Neither the attorney general nor her husband are involved in the new event.

“They are really, really stretching at this point,” Council said. “It’s silly. I haven’t spoken to Paul about the new fundraiser. I did not email him an invitation. So I don’t know what they are talking about.”

The charges against Krolicki were filed in December 2008 after a 2007 audit of a $3 billion, state-run college savings program overseen by his office while treasurer. He is charged with four felony counts, two for misappropriation and falsification of accounts by a public officer, and two for misappropriation by a treasurer.

No state funds were missing but Krolicki is accused of not following state budgeting rules.

Krolicki, who was a potential candidate for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in the 2010 election, has denied the charges and said they are politically motivated.

Morley said he is sponsoring the new fundraiser and neither the attorney general nor her husband are connected to the event in any way.

Both Masto and Krolicki are seeking reelection to their positions in 2010.