Full board to hear ethics case

Friday, April 13, 2001 | 10:28 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A state Ethics Commission panel found sufficient evidence Thursday to proceed with hearings for a former Clark County manager and current administrator who were accused of misusing government property and staff.

The screening panel recommended that the full ethics board investigate former Clark County facilities chief Bill Barrett and General Services Director Earl Hawkes.

The ethics complaint, filed by former county facilities worker Gene Smith, claims Barrett enlisted his employees to work on elected officials' campaigns while on county time and using government equipment.

"Bill Barrett would ask or have his cronies ask employees to do work on certain county officials' political campaigns on and off county time," Smith's affidavit, which was submitted to the Ethics Commission, says.

Smith claims Barrett's crew helped with campaigns for former commissioners Paul Christensen, Lorraine Hunt and Thalia Dondero and current board members Erin Kenny and Mary Kincaid Chauncey.

Smith alleges Hawkes was aware of Barrett's behavior and covered it up to save his job, according to his affidavit. Smith's complaint also says Hawkes had county employees use county materials to do carpentry and electrical work at his home.

Hawkes said Thursday the charges against him "are a lie and harassment," adding that he will be cleared when all information is made available to the full Ethics Commission. Barrett could not be reached for comment.

Smith said his allegations are "just the tip of the iceberg."

The full commission has tentatively set a public hearing for June 21 in Las Vegas.

Smith, an employee with the general services facilities division for five years, was fired in 1998 after he pleaded no contest to a charge of petty theft. The district attorney's office prosecuted Smith after a county-owned washer and dryer were found in his house. Smith says he has the receipts proving he purchased the appliances.

Hawkes said he believes Smith is out to get revenge for the firing.

"He knows these are lies," Hawkes said.

But Smith stands by his claims and said he was initially sent out to Hawkes' home to fix his air conditioner while he was on the county clock.

"I used county equipment to check his air-conditioning unit and I replaced a run-start cap that was county property," Smith said.

The compressor also needed to be replaced, but Smith said he didn't want to do the job. Another employee, Smith said, did the work and the compressor was county property.

"He did everything in his power to cover up and hide the facts to save his job," Smith said.