Ethics issue casts cloud over ad bids at airport

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, March 16, 1999 | 11:09 a.m.

The lieutenant governor's involvement in the bidding process for a multimillion-dollar airport contract may have violated Clark County's newly adopted ethics policy.

The policy adopted just two weeks ago after months of preparation prohibits former County Commission members from lobbying the county for one year after they have left their position. Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, who left the commission in December, called its chairman, Bruce Woodbury, last week to voice her support for F/F/E (Forsythe, Francis and Ernaut) Associates, which is competing for the master concessionaire contract for indoor advertising at McCarran International Airport.

"She was just putting in a good word for F/F/E," Woodbury said Monday. "She worked for them several times, and they're good. I told her I've worked with them, too, and I knew that."

Larry Spitler, the architect of the county's ethics policy, said Hunt's call could be construed as lobbying, which violates the new code.

"A lot of times you can call and give information, and sometimes those are lobbying calls because you're usually advocating a position," Spitler said. "If you're advocating one company over another or one position over another, that is lobbying. One thing the ethics task force tried to do is clear up situations like that."

Spitler said, however, that the task force never discussed unpaid lobbyists. He added that while Hunt was not paid, she has had a business relationship with F/F/E.

"Some people lobby for free, some people lobby for money," he said.

The county Department of Aviation's list of four finalists -- F/F/E, DRGM Advertising and Public Relations, Transportation Media Inc. and Joyce and Associates -- was presented this morning to the County Commission.

The two top contenders are F/F/E and Joyce and Associates, which won the contract in 1988 and subsequently took advantage of two renewal options.

Aviation Director Randy Walker said the decision between F/F/E and Joyce and Associates is difficult and asked to postpone the item until the second week of April to allow staff more time to review the proposals.

Commissioners suggested the the two firms offer presentations to the board to eliminate perceptions of connections and favoritism.

"We all know there are political connections with some of the firms," Commissioner Mary Kincaid said. "We can't deny they play a part in this."

In February, F/F/E changed its name from Bayer Brown Forsythe & Ernaut, which ran successful campaigns for then-County Commissioner Hunt and Gov. Kenny Guinn. Pete Ernaut, Guinn's new chief of staff, is a partner in the group.

Woodbury insisted that Hunt's call was not an attempt to sway his vote.

"The purpose of her call was not on behalf of them like she was representing them," Woodbury said. "She wanted us to know should we find that F/F/E is the better applicant, we can feel confident about what we're doing."

Hunt could not be reached for comment, but the lieutenant governor's deputy chief of staff, Andrea Reitan, said Hunt believes she did no wrong by placing a call to Woodbury.

"She's very comfortable in making the telephone call," Reitan said. "She feels she provided information that would allow people to make a good decision. She makes recommendations all the time."

Woodbury said Hunt's call won't affect his decision. He acknowledged that Joyce and Associates has been impressive and said he will take into consideration Walker's recommendation today.

Robin Joyce, president of Joyce and Associates, said he is confident his company will retain the contract, which last year brought in $9.4 million -- 80 percent of which goes to the Aviation Department.

"We're trusting they'll vote on the merits of our proposal and the outstanding job we've done for 10 years," Joyce said.

Joyce said revenues have increased by 1,500 percent since his company took over in 1988. He credits the Aviation Department for allowing Joyce and Associates to introduce different types of advertising signs in the airport.

The advertising master concessionaire oversees all advertising areas in the airport and leases space to businesses. The contract is lucrative.

The county adopted its own ethics policy because the airport contract-awarding process had troubled commissioners, some of whom were found in violation of state ethics laws for using their positions to help friends land concession space.

The advertising contract might also pose conflicts for commissioners.

Joyce is the son of legendary campaign manager and Nevada lobbyist James Joyce. The son of Rod Reber of DRGM Advertising is the husband of Gay Reber, a longtime friend of Commissioner Lance Malone's wife. Malone was found in violation of state ethics laws last year for voting to award Gay Reber two airport concessions in the newly opened D terminal.