Mack abstension leaves questions

Friday, Aug. 8, 2003 | 9:44 a.m.

When Las Vegas City Councilman Michael Mack discloses potential conflicts of interest he usually goes into some detail as to why he feels he should abstain.

But his latest abstention, during Wednesday's Las Vegas City Council meeting, carried very little explanation.

Mack declined an opportunity to expound on what he called a "personal venture" in which Eric Goodman, the mayor's son, is representing him. Mack's only response to questions about the relationship came through a city spokeswoman.

"According to our legal department ... Councilman Mack has sufficiently disclosed the necessary information related to (the) agenda item," city spokeswoman Diana Sahagun said. "Councilman Mack abstained from the vote, thereby freeing him of any further explanation."

Alan Lichtenstein, a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said he agreed that Mack's disclosure was sufficient and that the councilman was not required to elaborate.

But during many of Mack's other disclosures, he has often gone into extensive detail as to why he abstains, such as noting that his brother's pawn shop is located near where an applicant wants to establish an unrelated business.

The item in which Mack gave the barest of details this week was over a zone variance and a special use permit for a billboard 253 feet from a residential property at 208 E. Sahara Avenue where 300 feet is the minimum distance requirement. Also, the proposed billboard was to be located within the minimum 300 feet of two other billboards.

Oscar Goodman also abstained from voting because his son was handling the matter that was approved by a 5-0 vote.

A call to Eric Goodman, who was representing Orion Outdoor Media and two family trusts on the matter, was not returned.

On another matter, Mack, a former pawnbroker who went bankrupt, disclosed that a public relations firm for whom he works is doing work for Poggemeyer Design Group, a firm that applies for government contracts and works for many companies that come before the city.

Mack also has disclosed doing work for Triple Five commercial development company and Treasures, an adult club. Those businesses have come before the city council on other occasions.

Mack, who is up for reelection in 2005, has had trouble with disclosure laws in the past.

In February 2002, the city ethics board ruled that Mack willfully violated the city's ethics code on four occasions in 2001 when he voted to postpone and ultimately deny a car dealership proposed in northwest Las Vegas without disclosing he owed $60,000 to rival car dealer Joseph Scala.

The board directed that Mack be prosecuted in Municipal Court. He could have been removed from office if found guilty. In August 2002, Mack was acquitted in Municipal Court on the four criminal charges in a case that prompted Oscar Goodman to begin the process of limiting the Las Vegas Ethics Review Board's ability to prosecute public officials.