Hawkes faces ethics hearing

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2001 | 10:39 a.m.

Former Clark County General Services Director Earl Hawkes is the latest target of former county facilities worker Gene Smith, who has filed five ethics complaints against elected officials and administrators.

Smith's complaint is twofold -- he claims Hawkes was aware that division managers forced employees to campaign for elected officials and that Hawkes had a county worker replace his air-conditioner compressor with a piece of machinery owned by the county.

The witness list submitted on behalf of Hawkes and the state Ethics Commission indicate the focus of Thursday's hearing will be on the compressor work done at Hawkes' home.

Hawkes plans to take the stand. Polly Hamilton, executive director of the Ethics Commission, said others on the witness list are Hawkes' wife; the county's internal auditor, Jeremiah Carroll; and a home warranty expert, who is expected to testify to the cost of an air-conditioner compressor.

The Ethics Commission plans to call Richard Schotmuller, who installed the compressor at Hawkes' home in 1996.

Smith's contention that Hawkes knew his managers were campaigning for elected officials on county time is not likely to be discussed. Former Chief of Facilities Bill Barrett went before the commission on four counts of ethics violations related to his campaigning -- or asking his crews to campaign -- for elected officials.

The commission found Barrett in violation of only one charge, saying he used his position to influence employees to campaign. It also determined Barrett's behavior wasn't willful.

Hawkes retired from the county last month, shortly before new county manager Thom Reilly took over.