Kincaid-Chauncey calls claim of payment ‘fictitious’

Erin Neff

Friday, Aug. 15, 2003 | 9:50 a.m.

Clark County Commissioner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey on Thursday denied taking cash payments for a trust fund and lambasted media reports that suggested she had.

Kincaid-Chauncey's remarks came during an interview on the public corruption scandal on "Face to Face With Jon Ralston," a program on Las Vegas ONE, which is a partnership between the Las Vegas Sun and KLAS Channel 8.

The commission chairwoman called "fictitious" a Las Vegas Review-Journal article that, citing an unnamed law enforcement source, reported she heard herself on a tape discussing a $5,000 payment.

The May 20 article said Kincaid-Chauncey was discussing a $5,000 payment delivered by former Commissioner Lance Malone on behalf of his client, strip club owner Mike Galardi.

"That's an incorrect statement," Kincaid-Chauncey told Ralston on the show, airs on Cox cable Channels 1 and 39.

She responded: "False," when Ralston asked if she took money for a trust fund and again when he asked if she took money from Malone.

Kincaid-Chauncey has not elaborated on the trust since first discussing it with the Sun shortly after the May 14 raids of Galardi-owned topless clubs in Las Vegas and San Diego and of San Diego City Council offices.

She told Ralston that she was involved in the trust, as a public official, to help raise money for the cause.

"I actually did not take the money," Kincaid-Chauncey told Ralston.

Kincaid-Chauncey also said she does not believe she has done anything wrong, despite the FBI informing her that she is a target of their investigation.

"I was probably just talking to the wrong people at the wrong time," Kincaid-Chauncey said. "I stayed friends with Lance and Erin (Kenny)."

Kenny has been listed as a defendant in a sealed federal case that sources say is related to the corruption probe.

Kincaid-Chauncey said she was honest with federal agents when they came to her home shortly after the raids May 14.

"They asked me what I thought about Lance, what I thought of the Galardis and I was very honest with them," said Kincaid-Chauncey, who has announced she will seek re-election to her commission seat next year.

Kincaid-Chauncey told Ralston she was "somewhat frightened" of Jack Galardi, with whom she had had past dealings. Jack Galardi is Mike Galardi's father.

Throughout the interview Kincaid-Chauncey lashed out at the Review-Journal for its coverage.

"Why the R-J has chosen to use the power of the press to destroy my reputation, I don't know," Kincaid-Chauncey said.