Elko district attorney urged boycott of Forest Service

Thursday, March 9, 2000 | 9:24 a.m.

The new disclosure of the advice from District Attorney Gary Woodbury could jeopardize the county's mediation with the Forest Service in the ongoing fight over the South Canyon Road and a threatened fish in the Jarbidge River, two Elko County Commissioners said Wednesday.

But Woodbury defended his actions and said nothing ever came of his recommendation.

"As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing illegal about an economic boycott," Woodbury told the Elko Daily Free Press.

The commission on Wednesday made public Woodbury's letter from Dec. 30, 1998, urging a local advertising campaign that would encourage local businesses to refuse to sell goods to Forest Service employees.

"The commissioners ... should encourage community non-cooperation with the Forest Service both within and without government," Woodbury wrote in the five-page letter.

"By this I mean encouraging businesses to deny basic services that the Forest Service depends on. I am fully aware that this means sacrifice on the part of the businesses ..."

Woodbury suggested the county invest in newspaper and broadcast advertisements that concluded by stating:

"This message is brought to you by the Elko County Commission who encourages you to let the Forest Service know what you think about this by not cooperating with them. Don't sell goods or services to them until they come to their senses."

Commissioner Brad Roberts said Woodbury's letter compromises the county's legal position on all public lands issues because it lends some credence to allegations made by Gloria Flora, former supervisor of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

Flora resigned in November in protest of what she called a hostile atmosphere. She said agency workers were denied service at restaurants and motels in the Elko area.

As a result of the letter, Roberts proposed the commission seek outside legal counsel for mediation with the Forest Service and Justice Department over the road. But the commission rejected that motion, 3-2.

The Forest Service sent an investigative team to Nevada for two weeks in December to interview more than 100 workers. The team confirmed dozens of agency workers told them they experienced harassment, intimidation and threats in Nevada in recent years based solely on who they work for.

But the team concluded none of the allegations rose to the level of warranting pursuit of criminal charges. It also determined none of the workers currently is in any danger.

County Commissioner Tony Lesperance agreed the county should seek outside legal counsel in the mediation as a result of the letter.

"I'm appalled at what happened," Lesperance said Wednesday.

"This letter to me was mind-boggling," Commissioner Mike Nannini said.

Lesperance, who was chairman at the time, said he destroyed his copy of the letter because of its implications but was sure he shared it with other commissioners at the time.

Commission Chairwoman Roberta Skelton said she doesn't recall the letter, nor does Nannini.

Woodbury said he has removed himself from offering any advice regarding the mediation.

In regard to the proposed boycott, he said:

"There have been hundreds of conversations in Elko County suggesting the same thing, but the question is not whether there was a conversation, but the question is whether anything was done about it and the answer is no."