Editorial: McDonald oversteps propriety

Saturday, Nov. 11, 2000 | 3:48 a.m.

The Las Vegas Ethics Review Board did the right thing Wednesday when it unanimously found that City Councilman Michael McDonald violated the city's conflict of interest code. The next step is up to Frank Cremen, the review board's attorney, who will decide whether the violations are worthy of criminal prosecution in the city's Municipal Court. If McDonald were found guilty of a misdemeanor violation, he automatically would be removed from office.

It is amazing that McDonald continued to insist during the ethics hearing last week that he didn't misuse his office to separately benefit his employer and a friend. Based on the testimony of fellow City Council members and City Hall staffers, it is clear that McDonald overstepped ethical bounds. McDonald tried to make the distinction that because he abstained on City Council votes involving these matters, he wasn't lobbying with his behind-the-scenes machinations to further the interests of his employer, Larry Scheffler, and his friend, topless club owner Rick Rizzolo. What nonsense. In particular, does he believe that Scheffler, the man who signs his paycheck, wouldn't benefit from his actions, whether it came in the form of a vote or in speaking on behalf of his boss behind closed doors?

McDonald escaped prosecution when District Attorney Stewart Bell said there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute him under state public corruption laws. McDonald, though, may not be as lucky this time as the city ethics review board's attorney deliberates whether to file charges against him.