Las Vegas Sun

November 16, 2009

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Editorial: Law is limited when punishment is set

Friday, March 23, 2001 | 10:01 a.m.

It's tough to argue with District Judge Jim Mahan's decision Wednesday that Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald's ethical transgressions didn't rise to the level of malfeasance, which would have resulted in him being removed from office. An incredibly high bar should be set before the will of the people is set aside, which effectively is what tossing McDonald out of office would have been.

Mahan's ruling, however, should not be interpreted as an exoneration of McDonald's actions. Both the city and state ethics commissions properly found that McDonald did violate ethical guidelines with his behind-the-scenes pursuit to get the city to buy a financially ailing, privately run park, which had McDonald's boss as one of its investors. For that matter, it is hoped that all elected officials in the valley take note that such unethical behavior won't be tolerated in the future. Period.

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