Whistle-blower seeks shelter from county

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000 | 11:10 a.m.

A Clark County employee tied to an ethics complaint filed against Commissioner Erin Kenny is fearful of retaliation and is seeking whistle-blower protection from county administrators, sources said.

Brad Banaszak, who works in the county facilities division, spoke Monday with County Manager Dale Askew about protection from any revenge after airing his concerns about corruption within his department.

"He was asked to put into writing what his allegations are, and we will review those allegations and try to substantiate them," Clark County spokesman Doug Bradford said Tuesday. "If he feels he has been retaliated against based on his allegations, he could fall under the county's witness protection program."

Banaszak said he believes he has been retaliated against since speaking to Assistant County Manager Mike Alastuey about abuse of overtime and federal funds in the department run by Bill Barrett.

However, his most recent concerns stem from an August meeting at Kenny's home that led to an ethics complaint filed by former employee Gene Smith last month.

The ethics complaint claims Kenny encouraged Banaszak and Smith to break into the County Government Center and take documents damaging to Commissioner Mary Kincaid, who faced Kenny's best friend in the September primary election.

Smith claims Kenny was after documents that proved facilities employees campaigned for Kincaid during work hours. She also wanted proof that Barrett enlisted employees to help move Kincaid's flower shop on county time.

Smith and Banaszak met with Kenny to discuss potentially illicit behavior in the facilities division -- a department that maintains county buildings. The topic was briefly discussed before the conversation turned to Kincaid.

Banaszak said when the initial purpose of the meeting became public after the ethics complaint was filed, he became nervous that Barrett or employees close to Barrett might retaliate against him.

"Erin Kenny said in the news that we were there to meet about Bill Barrett," Banaszak said today. "Now what do you think Bill is going to think and what do you think is going to happen to me?"

Banaszak said he senses he has already become a target. False rumors about him have filtered through the division in the last two weeks.

"They'll keep throwing this stuff out until something sticks," Banaszak said of the rumors. "Fortunately, I've had witnesses from a few different departments to refute them."

Banaszak said his first taste of retaliation came after he met with Alastuey nearly two years ago to discuss the misuse of funds.

Since that conversation, Banaszak said he has been transferred to different divisions within the Facilities Department, he has received a poor evaluation, he was denied a promotion and he is no longer given any overtime assignments.

"I knew I'd get targeted; it was a matter of time," Banaszak said. "That's just how it works."

Barrett's office referred calls to the county spokesman.