Brown confident she has support

Bob Shemeligian

Monday, March 16, 1998 | 10:04 a.m.

North Las Vegas Councilwoman Paula Brown says she welcomes a recall election.

Brown, along with her husband, owns two North Las Vegas chemical companies that last year became the focus of an investigation by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

Representatives of "Citizens for Higher Ethics" on Friday filed a notice of intent for a recall election against Brown. The one-term councilwoman said the day the intent was filed is a particularly lucky one for her.

"It was Friday the 13th," Brown said, "and 13 is my lucky number, so they couldn't have picked a better day for me."

Brown was appointed to the City Council in January 1997 to replace Mary Kincaid after the latter won a seat on the Clark County Commission. In the general election in June 1997, Brown breezed past challenger Sylvester Rogers 64 to 36 percent to win a two-year term.

"I believe I have the support of the community, and this recall effort has been launched by a small handful of people," Brown said. "I have done nothing wrong."

Indeed, 49-year-old Brown has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

She and her husband, James, own J.B. Chemical Co. at 3880 E. Craig Road, and once owned Lab-Kem Supplies, which closed in July 1997.

Following a police raid last year on the chemical companies, James Brown pleaded guilty to tax charges from sales of chemicals at his businesses. Police said James Brown had sold chemicals that were later used in methamphetamine labs. Drug charges against him were suspended after he pleaded to the tax charges.

Paula Brown stressed the chemicals sold by the lab were perfectly legal. She said to charge a businessman because he legally sells chemicals that are later used in the manufacture of an illegal substance is like charging a gun store for a legal sale of a weapon that's later used in a crime.

The citizens' group, however, says the councilwoman has compromised the city's image, and the voters should decide as soon as possible whether she should remain in office.

"The question is this: do we, the citizens of North Las Vegas, accept this for a member of City Council?" asked Glen Easter, a member of the citizens' group. "Does she best represent the citizens? This is a question that's best left to the citizens to decide."

To recall Brown, volunteers must collect 1,930 valid signatures of registered voters within 60 days.

In recent weeks, members of the citizens' group have placed placards along public streets throughout the city that state: "Say No to Drugs. Recall Paula Brown."

The city has asked the group to remove the signs from roadways, but members have refused, saying the city's request is unfair and a violation of free speech.

Brown stressed that she has not committed any crime, and the only thing her husband is guilty of is putting too much trust in his employees.

"My husband has pleaded guilty to what he was guilty of," Brown said. "A trusted employee stole from him, and consequently, my husband under-reported his sales taxes. Jim had no suspicion whatever, and unfortunately he's not a great bookkeeper. That's the end of story."

But Easter said he believes that is not the end of the story.

"They payed $21,000 in back taxes, and that translates to $300,000 (in sales)," Easter said. "She says she didn't do anything (wrong). Then why doesn't she come out and tell us what actually transpired? We should know all the answers. People ask me why I worry about the little things. Well, it's the little things that concern us all."

James Brown's sentencing on tax charges is scheduled in April in District Court.

"Unfortunately, because of the criminal case (pending against her husband), I won't be able to say a lot until then," said Brown, who added that she believes North Las Vegas residents at that time will recognize the "sensationalism" of the case against her husband.

She hopes voters also will recognize the work she's done for the community in the past year.

Brown has been working on more stringent regulations to reduce the density of units in planned-unit developments. She also has been working with other council members to plan a new spacious North Las Vegas Library in the northwest section of the city.

Another project Brown is involved in is the planned acquisition of 7,500 acres of prime land for a master-planned community.

"It's very rewarding and challenging," Brown said of public life.