Miller rips ethics panel over new McDonald issue

Erin Neff

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999 | 10:37 a.m.

In filing a second request for an ethics opinion about City Councilman Michael McDonald, Steve Miller had as many harsh words for the Ethics Commission as he did for the politician.

Miller, who lost to McDonald in this year's primary election, demanded the Ethics Commission consider his second request during an upcoming open meeting in Las Vegas.

"I'm taking them to task more than I'm taking McDonald," Miller said. "They should bring it down here where it belongs."

When Miller's first request for an opinion was heard Nov. 19, his allegations were dismissed by two members of the commission meeting in Carson City.

Miller accused McDonald of conflicts of interests relating to his vote in July to approve a trash contract with Silver State Disposal Service Inc. McDonald is friends with Silver State President Steve Kalish and general counsel Robert Groesbeck and dates Jennifer Simich, who works for the company.

The company and its related entities also donated $36,000 to McDonald's campaign, and Kalish held a fund-raiser for him at his bar on Pecos Road.

When McDonald went before the Ethics Commission on Nov. 19, he denied that he was still involved in a relationship with Simich at the time of the vote.

In an Oct. 28 letter to the Ethics Commission, McDonald's attorney, Louis Palazzo, said that McDonald and Simich had not dated since February.

Simich and McDonald, however, have been seen together publicly numerous times since then and were seen embracing at last week's Fremont Street Experience Christmas tree lighting ceremony. A recently published photo of the couple sparked Miller's latest request for an ethics opinion.

"Councilman McDonald also lied to your committee regarding his girlfriend ... and their ongoing relationship," Miller's request alleges.

McDonald said he plans to handle the latest request the same way as the last one. But he refused to comment on the apparent discrepancy presented to the Ethics Commission.

"This is in Mr. Palazzo's hands now," McDonald said Tuesday, referring to his attorney. "We'll deal with it in his realm."

Miller alleges that McDonald perjured himself before the Ethics Commission.

Palazzo could not be reached for comment.

Kenneth Rohrs, the executive director of the Ethics Commission, did not return calls for comment. The Ethics Commission routinely refuses to comment on any particular case.