Files boost coach’s claims

Diana Sahagun

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001 | 11:20 a.m.

One day before a majority of the Las Vegas City Council appears before two separate ethics boards, Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald has added support to accusations made against another councilman and his top assistant.

Boggs McDonald said this morning that she provided documents to City Manager Virginia Valentine on Tuesday that would support allegations made by a Little League coach that City Councilman Michael McDonald and his chief liaison, Rick Henry, were behind threats made by a city employee.

McDonald could not be reached for comment this morning, and Henry denied any wrongdoing.

Metro Police, who are conducting a city-requested investigation, received on Tuesday afternoon the supporting documents from the city manager, Undersheriff Richard Winget said.

"The material was given to the detective investigating the case to consider," Winget said. "No conclusion has been reached yet in the matter."

Boggs McDonald said this morning that she could not comment on the materials she gave Valentine because it is part of Metro's investigation.

"I don't want to impede on anything Metro is investigating," she said, adding that the materials supported the allegations made by the coach.

City spokesman Erik Pappa said the city will not release the documents because they have been turned over to Metro and are a "personnel matter."

Last week, at the prompting of the City Council, Metro began an investigation after Peccole Little League coach Lloyd Schiller said he had signed a city document in August under duress and intimidation by Parks and Open Space Manager John Black.

Schiller told the City Council -- and Metro -- that he was told the threats were prompted by McDonald and Henry.

Police have an open investigation into whether there was any criminal behavior and if so, will forward the case to the Clark County District Attorney's office.

In the city document that appeared to be a contract, Schiller acknowledged he could no longer use the city's baseball fields at Rainbow Park after the fall baseball season and that the city had no responsibility to find a new location for him.

The letter was signed just days before the fall season was set to start.

Schiller said he had more than 700 children signed up to play baseball, and he was told if he did not sign the document and give up his right to future seasons, he could not begin the fall season.

Henry said this morning that neither he or McDonald had anything to do with the contract or the alleged intimidation.

McDonald, though, is upset that Schiller called a meeting in June with representatives from council members Larry Brown and Boggs McDonald, to discuss expanding the baseball diamonds, Henry said.

That request was approved without the councilman being informed, Henry said. Rainbow Park is in McDonald's ward.

"The interesting thing is that (Boggs McDonald) and Larry Brown were going behind the councilman, his staff and his constituent's back in not telling him they were doing the expansion," Henry said.

Boggs McDonald and McDonald were political allies whose relationship soured after he failed to support a controversial Costco project in her ward and she voted against McDonald's pick for appointment to the Ward 6 council seat.

The councilwoman also has been vocal about her disapproval of McDonald's recent troubles with the city and state ethics boards.

The passing of documents to Metro comes a day before almost the entire City Council will appear before either the local or state ethics board.

On Thursday Boggs McDonald, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and City Councilmen Brown and Michael Mack will appear before the city's ethics board on allegations the members showed favoritism to political consultant Sig Rogich when they granted him a tavern license.

That same day, McDonald will appear before the state's ethics board on allegations he was working behind the scenes to interfere with Rogich's application and his involvement in the Las Vegas Sportspark sale controversy.