McDonald resolves to clear his name

Thursday, Oct. 19, 2000 | 11:31 a.m.

Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald plans to fight charges of ethical misconduct until he's vindicated, his lawyer, Richard Wright, said this morning.

Wright said there was no truth to rumors spread by McDonald's political enemies that the councilman planned to resign today.

"He's not resigning," Wright said. "He intends to keep fighting and clear his name. When the truth is heard, and it's not prejudged by the media, there will be no ethical violations."

McDonald and Wright were to appear today before the Las Vegas Ethics Review Board, which was to determine whether there was enough evidence to hold a full-scale hearing into allegations McDonald misused his office.

Activist Bob Rose had filed a complaint with the panel questioning whether McDonald violated the public's trust by brokering the sale of Las Vegas Sportspark for his boss, Larry Scheffler, a majority owner in the athletic complex. McDonald works for Scheffler's other company, Las Vegas Color Graphics.

Rose's complaint also asked whether McDonald violated any ethics laws in an alleged bid to block the possible opening of a topless club that would have competed with the Crazy Horse Too, owned by his good friend, Rick Rizzolo.

On Tuesday Metro Police turned over a copy of its criminal investigation into those matters to the city ethics panel. Police had recommended filing criminal charges against McDonald, but District Attorney Stewart Bell declined to prosecute, saying he didn't believe he could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

McDonald has denied any wrongdoing, and Wright has charged that police were mounting a vendetta against the councilman because he has been an outspoken critic of the police department.

In their report, the intelligence detectives who investigated McDonald said the evidence they've uncovered suggests McDonald lied to the public about his role in the incidents under scrutiny.

If the Las Vegas Ethics Review Board determines it has sufficient evidence to hold a full hearing, McDonald's political future could be in jeopardy. McDonald would be required to step down from the City Council if found to have violated any ethics provisions.