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Jane Ann Morrison
The trick will be when politicians start acting ethically willfully
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Updated: Jan. 5, 2010 | 12:24 a.m.
Back in 1998, Larry Spitler was presented with a proclamation from the Clark County Commission, honoring him for his creativity and resolve in producing a set of ethical guidelines for elected and appointed county officials.
The former three-term Democratic assemblyman had chaired a task force on ethics and the seven commissioners, commended him for his commitment for creating sound ethics guidelines.
Four of the seven commissioners who signed the proclamation subsequently went to prison. Lance Malone remains inside the joint. Erin Kenny, Dario Herrera and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey are out
A fifth commissioner, Yvonne Atkinson Gates, was investigated but never charged.
The only commissioners in 1998 who didn't get caught up in a scandal are no longer on the commission: Bruce Woodbury and Myrna Williams.
Now that's a proclamation to treasure, for yucks, if nothing else. My wish for 2010 would be for more ethical behavior by our politicians. What are the odds?
Apparently, it's a priority for gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid. He has released a plan for transparency and ethics in government. It's his second plan, coming after one about job creation, everyone's priority.
We both know ethics laws won't change some people's behavior.
Ethics laws won't stop politicians from whoring around on their spouses. Apparently, nothing will.
His proposals have some oomph.
I doubt the ones that need legislative approval will become law. Nevada legislators have a proud tradition of rejecting strong ethics laws. For instance, he's proposing a two-year cooling off period so legislators have to wait before becoming lobbyists. I doubt that will pass because so many of them slide easily from elected official to high-paid lobbyist.
"I'm trying to be the candidate that says something," Reid said after passing out his proposals in a slick blue booklet.
He'll work to eliminate the ethics escape hatch, the one requiring the Nevada Ethics Commission to find a violation was "willful" before it may penalize. He'll require ethics training for all state employees, officials and lobbyists, so violations would be presumed willful.
Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross recently was found to have violated the ethics laws, but the commission ruled it was not "willful," so no penalty. The commission said the obvious: Ross should have abstained from twice voting in favor of a new city hall.
He had a conflict because he is secretary-treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building and Construction Trades Council, which was trying to get a labor deal with the developer. He didn't disclose that in 2008 and went ahead and voted. Ross was warned in a 2007 ethics opinion he needed to be careful about potential ethics violations between his labor job and his city job.
Reid talked tough when speaking in generalities.
"Nevada has gaping holes in its ethics policies," he said. "It's ridiculous that officials can be found in violation of ethics law and unless it's willful, there's no penalty."
When I asked Reid whether Ross should pick either his council job or his union job and stick with one, he didn't say yes, he didn't say no. It's different when it's personal.
Reid is fond of saying he's the only one of the leading gubernatorial candidates to present any ideas so far.
Republican Brian Sandoval is scrambling to raise money so he can report a whopper of a war chest in January.
Jim Gibbons claims to be running for re-election, but there is little evidence.
Former Democrat and now nonpartisan Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is dancing about whether he'll run, so presenting ideas of any kind is not a priority.
Besides, Goodman has violated ethics laws. As mayor, he hosted a cocktail party promoting a company in which his son had a financial stake.
Of course, it wasn't willful.
Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.
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"Apparently, it's a priority for gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid. He has released a plan for transparency and ethics in government. It's his second plan, coming after one about job creation, everyone's priority."
These campaign promises worked for Obama, so I suppose Rory Reid is going to try them. It would be nice if Obama followed through, though. That's the part that Rory should pay attention to, following through. I'm just sayin.
Amend term limits law to prevent incumbents from running for ANY other elective or appointed office after they are term limited AND ENFORCE IT.
Besides, Goodman has violated ethics laws. As mayor, he hosted a cocktail party promoting a company in which his son had a financial stake.
Of course, it wasn't willful.
If I remember correctly, Oscar the red nosed mayor, stated 'I didn't do anything wrong and I will do it again.' His arrogance turned me against him.
I don't believe the public schools here even have the word ethics on their vocabulary tests, because nobody, and I mean nobody, that holds any position of power in this state has any ethics and they sure don't want the idiots in the voting booths to know what the definition is either. Nothing will change until people get smart and put politicians' heads on poles. Don't you love the Morris "Arsberry" story of owing almost a half million much of which is for property taxes he hasn't paid.
What really is rediculous, is everybody knows about these money and power hungry politicians and the public keeps them in office!Where is the sense here? Our comments here probably go nowhere,because the citizens that voted for these thiefs are probably at home watching LETS MAKE A DEAL On T V and have no clue!