Jones foe asks panel for another investigation

Thursday, Aug. 27, 1998 | 1:36 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Citing an incident that occurred 17 months ago, Steve Miller has asked the state Ethics Commission to investigate whether Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones is guilty of misconduct in connection with promoting gambling in Detroit.

Miller, a bitter foe of Jones ever since she defeated him in her first bid for mayor, has filed a libel suit against her and this is the second complaint he has submitted to the Ethics Commission concerning the mayor's actions. Jones was cleared of any wrongdoing in the other allegation involving her vote to deny zoning for a restaurant.

Miller said Jones appeared before the Detroit City Council Casino Committee in March 1997 to encourage casino development in that city. At that time he said Jones was a stockholder in Circus Circus Enterprises and Mirage Resorts Inc. which were vying for the franchise.

Circus Circus gained the franchise this year.

"I believe that Mayor Jones violated the spirit and letter of Nevada Ethics law by using her political title to encourage officials in Detroit to welcome investments by Nevada corporations in which she is a stockholder."

Jones' spokeswoman Cathy Hanson called the Miller complaint "a political vendetta."

"It's a shame Mr. Miller continues to abuse the ethics process and cost taxpayers money because he can't get over the fact the voters rejected him for mayor," Hanson said.

This is the eighth complaint filed with the Ethics Commission against Jones. The previous seven complaints were dismissed.