Friday, April 19, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- The state Ethics Commission has found no evidence to show that Deputy Secretary of State Dale Erquiaga used his office to help his former mother-in-law, Patty Cafferata, who is running for Congress.
Thomas Wilson, chairman of the commission, said Erquiaga is not part of the Cafferata campaign, has not raised money on her behalf and has never used his state office to help her in her quest for the GOP nomination.
A "concerned citizen" wrote to Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa complaining that Erquiaga is "once again conducted a campaign against Mr. (Jim) Gibbons" by helping Cafferata. The complaint was turned over to the Ethics Commission.
Wilson said Erquiaga and Cafferata have discussed the campaign but it has nothing to do with his office. The secretary of state's office is the chief elections office in the state.
Erquiaga had waived confidentiality and he was the only person to appear at the hearing in Reno. He was married to Cafferata's daughter from 1985 to 1993 and they have two children. He told the commission also that Treasurer Bob Seale, an opponent of Cafferata's, is the godfather of one of his children.
Gibbons, Seale and Cafferata are the major candidates vying for the Republican nomination to succeed retiring Rep. Barbara Vucanovich, who is Cafferata's mother.
Erquiaga was deputy secretary of state when Secretary of State Cheryl Lau ran for governor. He took an unpaid leave to be her campaign manager. Lau was defeated by Gibbons in the GOP primary election.
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