Ethics panel dismisses cases against Jones, Gates

Lisa Snedeker

Friday, Jan. 15, 1999 | 10:51 a.m.

Frivolous.

That's what the state Ethics Commission said Thursday about a complaint filed against County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates.

The Ethics Commission said it could not find sufficient evidence to pursue charges filed in December by Las Vegan Robert Rose concerning her conduct, Gates said following the closed hearing.

"It was harassment," she said. "There was no evidence and he (Rose) wasted everybody's time. The commission has put him on notice."

Rose could not be found for comment.

Rose filed the charges following a New York Times article that reported Gates uses Mirage Resorts' telephone operation when she wants to call a community meeting. Gates was chairwoman of the County Commission at the time and the County Commission is responsible for regulating Strip hotels, including those owned by Mirage Resorts.

In a letter to the Ethics Commission, Gates wrote: "Mr. Rose is under the misimpression that the automated telephone dialing services provided by Mirage Resorts Inc. were services provided as a political contribution to me. That is not the case."

Charges against Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones also were deemed to be without merit and dismissed.

"Although I'm delighted with the commission dismissing the charges, it raises the issue that when people can use the commission time and time again, there's something wrong with the system," Jones told Las Vegas 1, a 24-hour news station owned and operated by the Las Vegas Sun, Channel 8 and Cox Communications.

Jones said she feels the legislation forming the commission did not provide it with enough funding for a staff or the ability for it to do away with complaints that are not based on fact.

"I've been through this 10 times," she said, adding that the ethics process should not be used by individuals to damage an elected official's reputation.

Jones faced charges from Boulder City resident Lee Wayne Haynes for allegedly failing to list a partnership with tavern owner Stuart Apollo on her May campaign disclosure statement when she was running for governor.

Today the commission is rescheduled to hear former North Las Vegas constable candidate Steve Bergstrom's complaint concerning what he refers to as Constable Herb Brown's unethical campaign practices.

Bergstrom, who lost his bid for office in November against the incumbent Democrat, also has filed a complaint against Brown's campaign manager Mark Kincaid.