Ethics panel asked to investigate mayor, commissioners

Friday, Oct. 24, 1997 | 9 a.m.

Robert Rose wants the state Ethics Commission to investigate Jones and commissioners Yvonne Atkinson Gates, Myrna Williams, Lance Malone, Lorraine Hunt and Bruce Woodbury.

Several have been mentioned in recent media accounts for voting on matters that financially could benefit themselves or friends.

The Ethics Commission, which meets Nov. 13-14 in Las Vegas, will not acknowledge any complaints have been filed until it decides whether to proceed with investigations.

Rose said Wednesday that "everybody on the street" is dismayed by the recent disclosures that public officials may have committed ethics violations.

As the result, Rose wants the Ethics Commission to investigate the allegations and determine if the officials should be punished.

In his complaint, he included numerous newspaper stories. He said he is relying on the accuracy of the stories.

"This has to stop sometime," said Rose. "They are not in there in my opinion to serve anybody but themselves. I am 70 years old and have had enough of them doing things to benefit themselves."

But Woodbury said Rose is mistaken in his complaint. Woodbury was accused of voting to assist one of his campaign workers, Gary Naseef, in securing a concession at McCarran International Airport.

Woodbury, however, said the media accounts pointed out he abstained from voting when the Naseef issue came before the commission.

Jones said she expects the Ethics Commission to drop the complaint Rose filed against her.

In the complaint, Rose accused the mayor of failing to disclose stock she holds in various casinos. He also accused her of "willfully withholding" the address of her "secret clothing store."

But Jones said she followed the state law that requires her to disclose her financial interests in a certified statement filed March 31.

"It was on my disclosure form," she said. "There is nothing secret about my store." Jones opened Blue Pacific in the Stratosphere hotel-casino in May.

While state law doesn't require her to identify the specific stocks she owns, Jones said she would make that information available to the media and Ethics Commission.