Suit filed over airport coffee concession deal

Greg Tuttle

Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000 | 10:47 a.m.

Competition for a coffee concession contract at McCarran International Airport has boiled into a federal lawsuit alleging two Clark County commissioners used their political influence in return for a campaign contribution.

Dan Ayala filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court alleging Commissioners Yvonne Atkinson Gates and Dario Herrera attempted to influence the awarding of an airport concession on behalf of Sharyn Brown, the wife of political ally Jay Brown.

Ayala owns Ayalas Inc., which operates five concessions at the airport. Sharyn Brown owns SB Specialties Inc., a gourmet coffee business. Both companies are vying for a contract to sell coffee at the airport's C terminal.

The lawsuit alleges a separate company also owned by Sharyn Brown contributed $5,000 to Atkinson Gate's re-election campaign after she and Herrera approached airport officials about awarding a contract to SB Specialties.

The state Ethics Commission cited Atkinson Gates two years ago for a conflict of interest involving similar concessions contracts at the airport. She successfully appealed in state District Court in Clark County.

Airport supervisor Randy Walker told the Sun last month Atkinson Gates and Herrera approached him about the coffee contract this past summer and indicated they supported Brown's company. However, Atkinson Gates and Herrera denied attempting to influence the awarding of the contract.

A temporary restraining order sought by Ayala to delay the County Commission's awarding of the contract was denied Monday by U.S. District Judge Philip Pro.

A Nov. 30 hearing has been scheduled to consider a request by Ayala for a preliminary injunction against the county.