Ethics cloud to last through holidays

Diana Sahagun

Monday, Dec. 3, 2001 | 9:16 a.m.

Las Vegas Councilman Michael Mack was hoping to be cleared of ethics allegations before the holidays, but it appears he will have to wait until after the New Year to learn his political fate.

Mack was scheduled to appear before the Las Vegas Ethics Review Board Thursday for a full hearing on two ethics complaints against him. Instead the board will set a future hearing date to hear the complaints and hire special counsel to advise the board.

Mack said Friday that he had been hoping to put his ethics troubles behind him this month, a sentiment he said is also shared by his constituents.

"I would love to have put this all behind me before the first of the year," Mack said.

It is the third time the board has delayed a hearing into two complaints filed against Mack by associates of John Staluppi Jr., whose application for a car dealership was denied by the City Council in June.

The complaint alleges Mack tried to broker a deal between Staluppi and Scala, and denied the dealership because of his relationship with Scala.

The board had been scheduled to hear the complaints Nov. 5, but Chairman Earle White Jr. delayed the hearing for 30 days so he could hire a special attorney. As of Friday White had not hired a special attorney, which led to the delay.