Lawmaker says city officials threatened to fire him

Thursday, July 24, 1997 | 2:01 a.m.

Williams said city spokeswoman Cathy Hanson and former Councilman Matthew Callister told him in separate conversations early this month there were three votes - out of five City Council members - to fire him if he backed a measure limiting the use of eminent domain.

Hanson was out of town on vacation, said Nadia Wiggins, public information officer for the city. Callister, who lost a re-election bid in June but lobbied against the legislation on behalf of the Nevada Resort Association, denied threatening Williams.

"I don't know what he's talking about," Callister said. "Why would I do something like that? That's no way to get a vote."

Mayor Jan Jones defended Hanson. "I find it impossible to believe that someone as experienced and knowledgeable as Cathy Hanson would threaten anyone. She just wouldn't."

Williams is a senior management analyst for the city's office of federal, state and local initiatives, earning $59,039 a year. The Democrat has taken a six-month, unpaid leave of absence every other year to serve in the Assembly since his election in 1986.

Williams said he was deeply disturbed by his conversations with Hanson and Callister, and decided it was important to speak out rather than ignore the incidents.

"I think this needs to be aired," he said. "At no time will my obligation to my constituents be overridden by expectations from the city of Las Vegas or any other special interest."

Of his discussions with Callister and Hanson, Williams added, "It was late in the session, people were on edge trying to pass or defeat bills, and someone must have thought of an inappropriate lobbying tactic."

The legislation, sponsored by Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, was the subject of heated debate in the final days of the session. City officials and representatives from the gambling industry lobbied heavily against the measure, saying it would paralyze redevelopment efforts in Las Vegas and other Nevada cities.

The proposal would have given courts more control over the city's use of eminent domain. If challenged, the city would have had to show that property taken through condemnation would provide "specific and substantial benefits" to the public.

Williams, who said he strongly disagreed with the city's use of eminent domain in his lower-income district, voted for the legislation. It passed an Assembly committee on July 4 but was killed two days later in the Assembly, 15-26.