Reports of guns in City Hall give McDonald’s foes more ammo

Erin Neff

Monday, Nov. 20, 2000 | 11:26 a.m.

Words aren't the only weapons packing heat into the testy imbroglio at Las Vegas City Hall.

Past displays of firearms by City Councilman Michael McDonald and his chief of staff have created a sense of nervousness and outright fear in the 10th-floor offices of people already shaken by ethics violations and secretly recorded conversations.

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald leveled the first warning shot against possible retaliation last Thursday shortly after the council unanimously removed McDonald from his mayor pro tem position.

"Read my lips," Boggs McDonald said. "No retaliation, no intimidation of city employees will be tolerated."

By Friday those words and a reminder of state law weren't just "prophylatic" as Mayor Oscar Goodman described Boggs McDonald's impassioned speech.

Sources tell the Sun Councilman Michael Mack was so upset about McDonald's recent behavior that he privately discussed the potential for a tragedy akin to the 1978 murders of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk by a former police officer who had just learned he would not be reappointed as a supervisor.

The name of convicted shooter Dan White and mentions of his failed "Twinkie" defense -- arguing junk food made him do it -- are as common in discussions around Las Vegas' City Hall as upcoming Thanksgiving plans.

"It's had a chilling effect on the floor," Goodman said Friday on the Sun's television news program, "POV Vegas," which airs on Las Vegas ONE.

City Manager Virginia Valentine said she has recently been asked to investigate the city's weapons policy and whether McDonald and his chief aide, Rick Henry, have been granted permission to have guns at City Hall.

City policy prohibits firearms, other than those used by peace officers, anywhere on city property. Shortly after Goodman took office, signs mentioning the prohibition of weapons were posted at each entrance to City Hall.

The city manager must grant permission for any other person to bring a firearm into City Hall. Valentine, whose offices are two floors below those of the mayor and council, said she has not seen McDonald or Henry with guns.

"But I think there are other people up there who have witnessed that," she added.

Valentine is checking to see whether former City Manager Larry Barton granted permission for Henry to have a gun at City Hall. McDonald, a former police officer, routinely carried his service weapon to City Hall until his 1999 retirement from Metro Police.

McDonald says his Glock 9mm has been holstered at home since he retired. He says gossip from the 10th floor alleging concealed weapons is just that -- gossip.

"I don't carry a gun," McDonald said Friday. "Rick doesn't carry a gun, and he's never had a shoulder holster. I don't know where they got that I carry a gun."

Goodman said McDonald was showing off his gun on the 10th floor as recently as two months ago.

"I saw it several months ago in City Hall, and I've seen it on the front floor of the passenger seat of his car in the City Hall parking garage," Goodman said.

Ward liaisons for two different council members told the Sun they have seen McDonald with his service weapon and with a sniper rifle complete with a scope in his office.

"It's a blatant lie," McDonald said. "I would like them to prove it. Prove it. I do not do it. They say I do, well prove it."

Sources tell the Sun McDonald has excitedly shown new weapons -- like the rifle -- to staff members on the 10th floor. Others say they saw handguns on desks in McDonald's office, where both Henry and McDonald work.

McDonald said Henry's concealed weapons permit has expired. Metro Police did not immediately provide information about Henry's permit. As an ex-cop, McDonald has a permit to carry concealed weapons.

"It's such a blatant lie," McDonald added.

Part of McDonald's recent ethics troubles began when Goodman asked Metro to get to the bottom of allegations about Las Vegas Sportspark after McDonald and Sportspark partner Don Schlesinger told different stories about the potential sale of the recreation center.

The Las Vegas Ethics Review Board determined there was not enough information to find McDonald guilty of lying at a council meeting at which Sportspark was discussed.

During a 12-hour ethics hearing, McDonald said that he misstated some facts at that meeting because he was upset and angered by Schlesinger's comments.

The city ethics board did find McDonald guilty of two ethics violations, leaving open the possibility of prosecution through Municipal Court. If found guilty there, McDonald will be removed from office.

The Nevada Ethics Commission also will consider charges against McDonald at a Dec. 7 meeting.

Goodman said McDonald's modus operandi all along has involved lying. In specific cases, Goodman said McDonald stepped back publicly from his plans to break up the Metro Police Department and fire Valentine after privately instigating both attempts.

"His style is to hit, to go south and then point elsewhere," Goodman said.

McDonald says Goodman is the liar, and points as evidence to a recent private conversation with the mayor that McDonald secretly taped Nov. 9.

During that talk, Goodman asked McDonald to give up his mayor pro tem position. McDonald told Goodman, "I am a fighter," and said he believed the council should decide who gets to be mayor pro tem.

After that conversation, which Goodman did not know was recorded, the mayor told reporters that McDonald was fighting his request to give up mayor pro tem.

McDonald says he only released the tape to the media to show that Goodman lied about the conversation. Goodman doesn't see how the conversation can portray him as lying.

"He said he was a fighter, and he said the whole council should vote on it," Goodman said.