Goodman reaffirms faith in city attorney

Erin Neff

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1999 | 11:08 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman shrugged off rumors that he's hunting for a new city attorney by stating he has confidence in Brad Jerbic.

Goodman admitted during last week's press conference that he has talked with several local attorneys who expressed some interest in the job.

"They called me," Goodman said.

But he denied recruiting anyone to replace Jerbic in his $99,717 a year position.

"Brad Jerbic has done everything I have asked of him," he added, in an effort to dispel rumors circulating around City Hall that Goodman was displeased with Jerbic.

"I'm not offering jobs," Goodman said.

But he remained quiet on the topic of rumored patronage stemming elsewhere on City Hall's 10th floor.

Councilman Michael McDonald has been accused by city staff of pressuring them to hire his friends for appointive positions within city departments.

Goodman said he had not heard those accusations, and knew only of McDonald's friends on the councilman's personal staff.

Rick Henry, a high school friend of McDonald's, is the councilman's chief ward liaison. Henry, who stepped down from his city job for several months to run McDonald's recent re-election campaign, makes $59,999 a year.

Doug Rankin, a fraternity brother of McDonald's from their UNLV days, is also a ward liaison. Rankin makes $43,415.

But city sources say McDonald has also influenced the hiring of Robert Hyde and Nathan Taylor in Neighborhood Services. McDonald denies he had any influence in their hiring.

Hyde makes $41,524 a year. Taylor, who was hired June 28 after working on McDonald's re-election campaign, makes $35,000 annually.

Another of McDonald's friends, Willie Ramirez, will begin work Aug. 9 as a publicity specialist in the Leisure Services department earning $36,203 annually.

Ramirez, formerly a local reporter, was seen frequently at McDonald's campaign headquarters and recently attended the taping of a local television news show with the councilman, offering him advice on the buttoning of his suit jacket.

City sources said Ramirez was also a candidate for the city's vacant public information officer position.