Another ethics complaint filed against Gates

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Dec. 18, 1998 | 11:34 a.m.

A New York Times article that described casino mogul Steve Wynn's relationship with the Clark County Commission didn't fluster board members but apparently caught the attention of at least one person who files ethics complaints.

Las Vegas resident Robert Rose claims he filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission against board chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates because of what he read in the Dec. 6 story.

The Times reported that Atkinson Gates uses Steve Wynn's telephone polling operation when she wants to call a community meeting. The story then points out that Atkinson Gates votes on important issues put forth by Wynn.

On Wednesday, Ethics Commission attorney Louis Ling gave a standard response to inquiries about whether a complaint has been filed: It's kept confidential until the "just and sufficient cause" hearing and no such hearing has been scheduled.

Atkinson Gates, who was found in violation of ethics laws last summer, said she isn't concerned with Rose's latest filing.

"Anything they want to do, let them," Atkinson Gates said. "I'm not going to ruin my holiday with this crap."

The Times story said Wynn's success is largely due to campaign contributions and his ability to use his polling operation to help candidates he supports.

"To the envy of many other casino owners, Mr. Wynn has gotten what he wants from the county board, as well as from other local entities," the article says.

The Times uses Bellagio's extravagant 9-acre lake as an example. Wynn was able to win the County Commission's support despite an ordinance that prohibits artificial lakes because of water concerns.

"It was referred to as the Mirage ordinance," the article quoted Wynn as saying with a laugh. "It passed without opposition."

County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury, who likely will become the next chairman of the board, said charting Wynn's success makes a good story, but there is more to it.

"It's just expected; you never expect people to look into the complications and complexities and ambiguities of issues," Woodbury said. "You can go down the list of resort properties, and I doubt his track record is any better or worse."

Woodbury said he remembers plenty of times that Wynn didn't get his way. For example, Spring Mountain Road was never changed to Mirage Boulevard. And he lost his fight to gain air rights above Frank Sinatra Drive -- the new Interstate 15 frontage road -- so he could run a people mover from Bellagio to The Mirage.

Woodbury said the Southern Nevada Water Authority recommended approval for Bellagio's lake because it is made of unusable water.

"Not everything is as simple as it seems," Woodbury said.