Commissioners’ cell phone bills exceed $12,000

Adrienne Packer

Thursday, Aug. 31, 2000 | 11:27 a.m.

Clark County commissioners flooded the cellular airwaves over a yearlong period racking up more than $12,000 in bills on county-issued phones.

Leading in phone use was Commissioner Erin Kenny, who between May 1999 and May 2000 spent $4,242 on calls. She reimbursed the county $675 for personal calls and said another check for $500, which is not yet recorded, was submitted.

Commissioner Lance Malone was next, building up $3,550 during the same time period. He repaid the county $2,800. Commissioner Dario Herrera's bills added up to $2,432, and no reimbursement check has been received by the county.

The most frugal commissioner was Myrna Williams, whose bills added up to $225.

Recurring monthly charges were not included in any of the total bills tallied.

Kenny turned over her cellular phone records Tuesday after initially saying she first wanted to speak with the district attorney's office and review a recent Supreme Court ruling that the records should become public.

In a letter to the Sun dated Monday, Kenny clarified her position on releasing her records. She said she never refused to turn over her records. And she added that the court decision was an opinion, not a ruling and that elected officials have 25 working days to consider options such as filing an appeal.

"My intent was simply to review options at this time," Kenny wrote.

JoNell Thomas, an attorney for the Nevada Press Association, confirmed that the District Court has 25 days before it issues a writ of mandamus turning the Supreme Court opinion into an order. That time is allowed for appeals, but, she added, it is highly unlikely the Supreme Court would rehear the case because its decision was unanimous.

Thomas said commissioners might not have been required to turn over the records immediately, but should have done so in good faith.

"The county commissioners have dragged their feet on this for so long, any further delay makes you wonder what's going on," Thomas said. "It makes you wonder what is on those records."

Kenny said she does not consider her cell phone bill excessive. She said she uses her phone to conduct business during "down time" such as when she is attending her children's soccer practice or ballgames.

"Cell phones have become a modern convenience; it keeps me in contact with my office," she said. "My district is the largest in unincorporated Clark County. There is an inordinate amount of work that goes on in District F."

Malone said the vast region he has to cover has driven up his phone bill.

"The northwest is one of the largest districts of all seven, and we've made the case that we don't care if you're in the city or county -- if you have a problem, call us," Malone said.

"We want to make sure everyone gets a return call, and the best time to do that is in your car going to different events."

Malone's largest reimbursement check, for $1,216, was dated Aug. 22, more than a week after the commissioners were asked to provide their records by the Sun. Malone said he had not received a cell phone bill since February despite repeatedly asking for a copy.

He said he doesn't itemize his bills, but rather writes a check to the county for 50 percent of the total amount due.

"The way we've done our bills is fair," he said. "We were told to pay 30 percent, and we pay 50 percent."

County spokesman Doug Bradford said there are no fixed policies on when commissioners must submit reimbursement checks. They are not required to repay the county on a monthly basis.

Commissioners keep a monthly tally of their personal calls and then write a check for lump sum, he said. After the Sun requested a year's worth of bills, each commissioner was allowed to look over the invoices.

"We wanted to make sure they were aware of the bills so if they had payments they could make them," Bradford said.

Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, whose bills added up to $427 said she carries a personal cell phone and conducts most county business on it. She wrote a check for $25 on Aug. 21 to reimburse the county for times she carried the business phone and called home.

Herrera decided to carry a separate business cell phone, but he doesn't believe he has ever misused his county-issued phone.

"The majority of my calls are business," he said. "I pride myself on being accessible to staff and constituents and people who have business before the commission."

Commissioner Mary Kincaid's total cell phone bill amounted to $919. Commission Chairman Bruce Woodbury spent $528, but repaid the county $100.