Gates to remain chairwoman—for now

Jeff Schweers

Monday, Nov. 17, 1997 | 12:47 p.m.

Yvonne Atkinson Gates says she will wait until the Nevada Ethics Commission rules on her conduct before deciding whether to step down as chairwoman of the Clark County Commission.

"I'm not going to do anything," Gates said, responding to reports that two commissioners, Erin Kenny and Lorraine Hunt, have asked her to step down following an Ethics Commission decision last week to investigate Gates.

Gates said perhaps Hunt, who also is under investigation by the Ethics Commission, should step down as vice chairman.

If Gates won't step down voluntarily, the issue will be put on the Dec. 2 County Commission agenda for a vote, Kenny said.

"We can't wait any longer," Kenny said, adding that it was time to "remove any encumbrances to our effectiveness leading the community."

Kenny refused comment on whether there were four votes to force Gates out as chairwoman. However, she said she was supporting Commissioner Bruce Woodbury as the best choice to replace Gates.

The Ethics Commission voted unanimously Nov. 13 to investigate whether Gates misled the panel about her involvement in a frozen daiquiri business she had started with developer and neighbor Ed Nigro.

Gates did not attend Thursday's ethics hearing on the advice of her lawyers.

Gates had sought an opinion on when she should disclose that she had secured space at the MGM Grand for a Fat Tuesday's franchise and when she should abstain from voting on MGM business.

The panel also is looking into whether she acted improperly by voting to give airport concessions to Michael Chambliss, a friend and campaign consultant she paid $46,500 between 1994 and 1996, and to Judy Klein, who helped raise campaign funds for Gates.

On Friday, the Ethics Commission also decided to investigate whether Hunt acted improperly when she voted to award two airport leases to Gay Reber, whose father-in-law is a partner with Hunt in a $1.69 million retail center.

Hunt, who has owned the property with Rodney F. Reber for 25 years, said she didn't know that Gay Reber was married to his son, Rodney M. Reber.

The Ethics Commission also has decided to investigate Commissioner Myrna Williams for not disclosing Klein's fund-raising help, and Commissioner Lance Malone for not mentioning his wife's friendship with Gay Reber.

They also will be questioned on whether they lobbied their colleagues and airport staff on behalf of those friends.

On Aug. 19 Chambliss, Reber and Klein won concession leases reserved for minorities and women at the satellite D terminal at McCarran International Airport.