Editorial: Campaign charges warrant investigation

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003 | 8:43 a.m.

It wasn't all that unusual when Janet Moncrief began fielding allegations of unfair campaign tactics during her spring campaign for the Las Vegas City Council. It's the rare campaign that escapes such charges. Moncrief was challenging two-term Councilman Michael McDonald, who was vulnerable on account of his own ethical lapses. Once Moncrief showed signs of being a serious candidate, it was predicted that this race would be heated and it lived up to its billing. After Moncrief, a longtime nurse in Las Vegas but a political unknown, defeated McDonald in the April 8 primary it got even hotter.

Most candidates, particularly victorious ones, eventually shake any charges of unethical campaigning. There's rarely any proof and the animosity, so feverish during the campaign, recedes. But that hasn't been the case here. Despite Moncrief's repeated public denials of wrongdoing, the allegations continue to swirl around her and damaging affidavits are being sworn to by people associated with her campaign. According to her political enemies, she under reported campaign contributions and knowingly participated in the mailing of fliers containing information, much of it false, intended to discredit McDonald.

Secretary of State Dean Heller decided Monday that the complaints filed with his office regarding Moncrief's campaign should be fully investigated. That duty will fall to the Nevada Division of Investigation, which has the power to issue subpoenas and take sworn testimony. We believe Heller made the right decision. If allowed to continue endlessly, the allegations would undermine Moncrief's effectiveness in representing Ward 1. The voters are owed a definitive answer about whether campaign laws were broken.