Station Casinos aim to unseat commissioner

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Feb. 25, 2000 | 12:30 p.m.

As Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone was reconsidering his position on a proposed Spring Valley casino last month, Station Casinos Inc. was preparing to buy land for its own project just down the road.

And that, Malone said, is why Las Vegas' largest neighborhood casino company is waging a political attack on the 38-year-old incumbent, who is up for re-election in November.

"This is all about competition, that's it," Malone said.

Station Casinos trusted Malone's word that he opposed Triple Five Development's Spring Valley casino because it was too near homes. Malone's dissenting vote on Jan. 19 would have deadlocked the board at 2-2 and effectively killed the project.

Malone's last-hour change of heart infuriated Station Casinos executives who, according to the county assessor's office, closed a deal Feb. 10 on 90 acres just a few miles away from the proposed Triple Five project.

Station Casinos bought the eight parcels from Desert Springs Properties, a group in which developer Jim Rhodes' Mustang Properties is a general partner.

The property is located west of Durango Drive between Maule, Badura and Arby avenues north of the Rhodes Ranch neighborhood.

The Triple Five project, which Boyd Gaming Corp. officials said they hope to buy, is at the intersection of Grand Canyon Drive and Flamingo Road.

Since the January vote, Station Casinos -- which had already contributed $40,000 to Malone's campaign -- has labeled the commissioner a liar, conducted a survey that shows Malone's popularity has dropped and has searched for a viable candidate to challenge him.

Station Casino executive Mark Brown said the company's efforts are due solely to Malone's lies.

"The reason we're so enraged is because whether you are a billion-dollar company or whether you're a citizen trying to get a fence increased from 6 to 8 feet, you hope officials would tell you the truth," Brown said. "Lance Malone has misled us on more than one occasion."

Brown said Malone hasn't offered to return the contribution; Malone says the company hasn't asked for it.

Station's new casino site was one of 23 "grandfathered" in when the Legislature approved Senate Bill 208 in 1997. The bill requires elected officials to find "clear and convincing" evidence a casino will not adversely affect nearby residential communities before approving a project.

Spring Valley residents contend the Triple Five casino violates the bill and have filed an appeal. But the three commissioners who voted for it -- Malone, Mary Kincaid and district representative Erin Kenny -- claimed the site isn't close to homes.

Malone said Station Casinos' latest venture could be more damaging to residents because before SB208 was passed there were no distance requirements between casinos, homes and schools.

Brown declined to say how much Station Casinos paid for the Rhodes land, but it was likely a hefty price considering that only 23 sites are approved for neighborhood casinos in Clark County.

Station has no firm plans to develop or even keep the property.

Brown scoffed at Malone's claims that Station Casinos launched its attack on him because it is threatened by the competing Spring Valley project.

"We will compete with anyone; competition doesn't bother us," Brown said. "We're opposed to the project because it goes outside the intent of SB208.

"We know neighborhood casinos don't belong everywhere. On the other hand, there is a demand for the product, and we want the ability to grow our business. We have always played by the rules. If the rules are going to change, that's fine."

About two weeks after Malone's change of heart, Station Casinos hired Houston-based pollster Lance Tarrance, who has done extensive work for George Bush and Ronald Reagan. Brown said 400 residents in Malone's district were polled about his performance.

Essentially the survey showed that 31 percent of the residents said they would re-elect Malone, 33 percent were not sure and 36 percent said they would give another candidate a chance. The margin of error for the poll was 5 percent.

After being informed of Malone's Spring Valley vote, 6 percent said they would definitely vote for Malone, 60 percent said they would consider another candidate, 23 percent would not vote for him and 11 percent were undecided.

"The pollster, not knowing anything about Lance Malone, was shocked about the number," Brown said. "He's not in good shape."

Malone's only formal opponent, former FBI agent George Togliatti, dropped out of the race last month. Since then, several potential candidates have been named.

To date, the most notable possibilities are Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce boss Bob Forbuss, Clark County School Board member Lois Tarkanian and community activist Joyce Haldeman. Civil rights activist Dr. James Tate has also announced his intention to run.

Brown said Station Casinos is not the only company in the Las Vegas Valley searching for a viable opponent for Malone.

Malone believes the firm is becoming too involved in the political process by handpicking candidates. He said Station Casinos' actions are no better than when Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson spent $2 million trying to defeat incumbents Kenny and Myrna Williams and newcomer Dario Herrera in 1998.

Malone said his vote in Spring Valley is unrelated to his accomplishments in the northwest where he has built parks and expedited construction on major roadways.

"There was nobody out there two months ago, but now it seems Station Casinos is trying to find whoever they can. It's difficult to believe this isn't about a neighborhood casino," Malone said.

"There is definitely a parallel here. Mr. Adelson didn't want certain commissioners to be re-elected and spent a lot of money. All signs show that is what Station Casinos is going to do."