Gates says regent has vendetta

Jennifer Knight

Monday, Oct. 7, 2002 | 11:17 a.m.

Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates is weighing legal action against Regent Linda Howard, saying the regent looked at Atkinson Gates' UNLV personnel files because of a personal vendetta.

Atkinson Gates works part time as director of community relations at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach, a center where Howard once tried to obtain a job.

Atkinson Gates claimed that Howard looked into her files "shortly after her failed attempt to gain employment" at the center. Howard requested her files again more recently, Atkinson Gates wrote in a Sept. 29 e-mail to Tracy Cotton, the center's executive director.

"It appears she has some type of vendetta against me and consequently, I do not see an end to this harassment," Atkinson Gates wrote.

Richard Segerblom, Atkinson Gates' attorney, said the commissioner is considering a range of options that include a harassment lawsuit against Howard or an ethics complaint.

"To just become an independent watchdog, I don't believe an official has that right," Segerblom said.

Howard said she looked into Atkinson Gates' files about 18 months ago because of complaints she had received about Atkinson Gates receiving special treatment during the job search and higher pay and benefits than is fitting for the job.

"In an era and time when many issues of nepotism, cronyism and unfair practices have plagued our university and community college system, clearly it is within the scope of my duties and responsibility to inquire about the process and fairness of the process being implemented," Howard said today.

"This is a witch hunt," Howard said, adding she turned the job down. "It's just people out to stop Linda Howard from doing her job."

Regents are allowed access to personnel records, university system General Counsel Tom Ray said.

Board of Regents Chairman Doug Seastrand said the regents will likely debate a change in the policy in December.

"You would have to have a very strong reason to look at somebody's file," he said.

Regent Mark Alden said he believes Howard's actions are related to her failed attempts to get a job.

"She's livid about it. She demanded a position at CCSN for $45,000," Alden said.