Roger blames Davidson for building woes

Erin Neff

Friday, Oct. 4, 2002 | 9:37 a.m.

Republican district attorney candidate David Roger accused his Democratic opponent Mike Davidson during a televised debate Thursday of failing to oversee the troubled Regional Justice Center project.

Roger suggested that as the office's second ranking administrator, Davidson should have done more to keep the project -- which is already one year late and $50 million over budget -- on track.

"You're either an administrator or you're not," Roger charged during a debate on Las Vegas ONE. "The buck stops with you in this administration."

Davidson, the assistant district attorney, responded that Roger, a deputy chief DA in the criminal division, did not know enough about the civil dealings in the office to understand that he has no real role in the project.

"The DA's office is not responsible for the bidding," Davidson said.

Davidson said the office's job is to support county agencies who make such decisions, and added: "Our job is to advise them. They don't have to take our advice."

Roger said he has seen memos in the office, copied to Davidson, about the problems at the work site, and suggested the office should have put people at the site to oversee the construction of the building that will house the DA's office and other court agencies.

"I will never allow a Regional Justice snafu to happen on my watch," Roger said in his closing statement.

Throughout the hour-long debate, Davidson argued that he was the "multi-dimensional" candidate -- the one with civil, criminal and administration experience.

Roger argued that only a prosecutor could lead the office, and asked Davidson to defend a television commercial highlighting three big criminal cases during Davidson's four and a half years in the position.

"Mr. Davidson spent zero minutes in court on those cases," Roger said.

Davidson said his job in the office is to provide guidance and leadership in decisions about which cases to take to trial and seek the death penalty. He then asked Roger whether the current District Attorney Stew Bell had not established an office in which deputies like Roger can thrive.

"I know Stew Bell," Roger said. "And you're no Stew Bell, with great respect."

Roger also asked Davidson about his years as a criminal defence attorney, to which Davidson said the experience was a "positive" that allows him to see cases from all sides.

"In a sneaky kind of way, it gives me an advantage," Davidson said.

Roger countered: "Over the past 15 years I've dealt with sneaky criminal defense attorneys," and said it was his job to be one step ahead of their tricks.