Councilwoman questions PR hire

Monday, Dec. 1, 1997 | 3:19 a.m.

Pearce said Mayor Jeff Griffith is treating the event to be held in Reno next year as a private party for him and his friends.

With Griffith's help, Ardis Parmer & Associates set up a private, nonprofit corporation to head fund-raising events.

The firm, which has handled regional Republican events in Nevada and has been involved in the campaigns of two other council members who are Griffith supporters, was chosen by the mayor.

Pearce said she thought the money contributed by the city was to be used for promotional materials - not to hire a public relations firm.

"I didn't know we were hiring anybody," Pearce said. "We're not involved in this at all. It's strictly Mayor Griffith's deal and his friends.

"Mayor Griffith seems to think it's his private party."

Griffith said the arrangement is proper and that a private group is usually created to raise money and avoid mixing city finances with donations.

"This is how cities do this," he said. "It's not done through the city."

archive