Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Don’t misuse a good law

Thursday, July 25, 2002 | 8:46 a.m.

DOES HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF? It sure seems to when it comes to the abuse of our ethics laws. The most recent example of this abuse was the filing of an ethics complaint by Jack Lipsman against County Commissioner Myrna Williams. Lipsman also just happens to be the campaign manager for one of Williams' primary opponents, Tony Badillo. If ever there was a groundless ethics complaint it's the one filed by Lipsman in the Democratic primary.

Almost six years ago this newspaper could foresee the abuse of the ethics law during campaign years. In an editorial we agreed with the open records of the state Ethics Commission but went on to warn, "There's also an unfortunate opportunity to do damage with political smear campaigns. It's important to remember that an allegation is just that; one person's word against another.

"The danger in these cases is that the media and the public will jump to conclusions. It's incumbent upon both to ensure everyone has a fair hearing, with an ample opportunity to air all sides of the issue.

"Otherwise, the commission could become a tool for political enemies and could further seriously impair the attractiveness of public office.

"Used wisely, public ethics complaints will result in better government. Or it could destroy good public officials who, through no fault of their own, wound up on someone's enemies' list."

It wasn't but a few weeks following this warning that the campaign coordinator of candidate Brooks Compton participated in filing a complaint against Commissioner Paul Christensen during the Democratic primary. The complaint was filed by Helena Lockridge and was patently false, but the Ethics Commission took so long to throw it out the damage to Christensen became a big factor in his defeat in the general election. Not only were the charges false but Helena Lockridge didn't exist and the signature on the complaint was a forgery. Too bad, the damage had been done and a fine public servant was later defeated.

Two weeks ago along comes a complaint by a campaign manager in an attempt to damage incumbent Williams. The guts of his complaint are that Williams, as president of the Las Vegas Valley Water District, was taking advantage of her position. Her picture and letter on a brochure titled "The Facts About Your Drinking Water" produced by the LVVWD is his issue. He's especially upset because the brochure is printed in both English and Spanish. He must believe that only people who read English drink water or are interested in the contents of the water flowing from their kitchen faucets.

For three years this kind of brochure, in English and Spanish, has included the LVVWD president's picture and letter. So why is it an issue today? Because it's an election year.

I noted that a picture and letter from the chairman of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, Amanda Cyphers, is on its annual report. So is the governor's picture and message on every state road map distributed by the thousands. That's just the way it is and has been for at least 60 years. Should all of the state road maps be recalled and destroyed every four years when the governor is up for re-election? Don't be silly.

Commissioner Williams just happens to be the latest target of a candidate who is willing to misuse and abuse a good law. The sooner the Ethics Commission acts on this nonsense, the better. We don't need a repeat of what happened in 1996.