Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Editorial: Mack’s ethics case has lesson for all

The decision by the Las Vegas Ethics Review Board to refer Councilman Michael Mack's conflict-of-interest case to Municipal Court should become required reading for all current and future public officeholders. The moral of the decision can be summed up in three words: disclose, disclose, disclose. The board found that Mack, on five occasions in the first half of last year, cast votes against East Coast car dealer John Staluppi's plans to start a dealership in the northwest Town Center area. Mack cast the votes without disclosing that he had borrowed, and had not yet repaid, $60,000 from local car dealer Joseph Scala, who owns land within Town Center in an area planned for dealerships.

The Ethics Review Board didn't buy Mack's story that he had become so distracted with other matters, such as running for election, that he mistakenly thought the loan had been repaid. The board found that Mack violated ethics codes by failing to disclose a personal fact that could have the appearance of being linked to his vote on a public matter. The board chose the right path in referring the case to Municipal Court. There it will be determined if Mack's failure to disclose was an unintentional error or a crime that renders him unfit for office.

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