More ethics charges are filed

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001 | 11:48 a.m.

The former Clark County employee behind an ethics complaint against Commissioner Erin Kenny filed four more formal complaints against county officials.

Complaints sent to the state Ethics Commission target General Services Director Earl Hawkes, parks police chief Chester Broderick, Clark County Commissioner Mary Kincaid and former facilities chief Bill Barrett.

"I just want to put more information out there so (ethics commissioners) have more to work with," Gene Smith said.

Smith was fired from the county in 1998 for having a washer and dryer -- which county officials said belonged to a county facility -- in his home. Smith claimed he purchased the appliances.

County spokesman Doug Bradford said the targeted officials are eager to let the Ethics Commission flesh out the complaints, but some believe Smith's barrage of complaints stem from bitter feelings because of Smith's firing.

The complaints against Kincaid and Barrett piggyback an Ethics Commission review panel's recommendation last month that the full ethics board consider filing formal complaints against the two.

The panel was interested in claims that Barrett campaigned for Kincaid on county time using his county vehicle and that Barrett and his crew helped Kincaid move her flower shop while they were on duty.

Kincaid has refuted the allegations and said she welcomes an investigation by the Ethics Commission. The ethics board is scheduled to consider filing complaints during a closed door session Thursday.

Smith is also alleging Hawkes had county employees work on his home while on duty and using county supplies. Smith said that in 1996 he was asked to put in a county-owned air conditioner compressor, but he refused and the work was passed on to another employee.

The county investigated the allegations at the time, and Hawkes was cleared of any wrongdoing.

"Their investigation was a joke," Smith said.

Smith said his complaint against Broderick says the parks chief was initially hired by Barrett as a painter, but the only work he did was campaign for Kenny. Smith claims the primary task for Broderick, a former Boston police detective, was to dig up dirt on Kenny's opponent. In exchange for his campaign work, Smith said, Broderick was offered a promotion.