Moncrief answers allegations in letter to secretary of state

Will Oremus

Tuesday, July 22, 2003 | 9:26 a.m.

Las Vegas Councilwoman Janet Moncrief has written a letter to the secretary of state's office denying allegations that she had illegally financed mailers aimed at discrediting Michael McDonald, the incumbent she defeated in the June 3 election for council Ward 1.

Moncrief's statement, received by state officials Monday, was her response to affidavits filed by political activists Steven Miller, Pete "Chris" Christoff and Robert Conrad. The three asserted that they secretly worked for Moncrief's campaign without pay. If true, their claims would support a complaint filed in April by McDonald's campaign manager, Jim Ferrence, that accused Moncrief of violations including under-reporting campaign contributions and expenses.

The secretary of state's office now has all of the material it needs to decide whether the case against Moncrief merits a full investigation, Steven George, a spokesman for the office, said. The decision should come within the week, George said.

Christoff and Miller's complaints surfaced on June 18.

Christoff alleged that he had produced and distributed anti-McDonald fliers at Moncrief's behest and with the financial backing of former casino mogul Bob Stupak, who he said was acting on Moncrief's behalf.

Miller said that he helped Moncrief with several questionable campaign practices, including an anti-union flier designed to appear as if it had come from McDonald.

In the letter she filed Monday, Moncrief said, "These allegations are false, and I believe the reason for the correspondence from these individuals is directly tied to my refusal of Steve Miller's demand that I appoint him as my community liaison."

Miller, who left his City Council seat in 1991 in an unsuccessful run for mayor, conceded that he feels slighted by Moncrief's behavior after the election. But he contended that Moncrief "double-crossed" him by accepting his help throughout the campaign and then turning after the election to power brokers he considers corrupt.

"The influences that put a cloud over Michael McDonald are now right there with her," Miller said.

Moncrief painted a different picture, describing Miller as a would-be supporter who kept calling her to ask if he could help.

"In the past, Miller truthfully stated that he had no involvement in my campaign," she said in her letter. "On occasion, I did have conversations with him but no different than the time and attention that I would have afforded any other citizen of Ward 1 who was as persistent as Miller."

Moncrief's letter also questioned Christoff's credibility.

"His campaign disclosure statements, submitted under oath, indicate he paid for a mailing on March 16," the letter read. "Christoff now contradicts his prior response and attempts to shift responsibility for his mailing."

Christoff maintained that Moncrief is the fraud, and said that he has already "set the machine in motion" for a recall effort this winter.

He added that he believes her guilt will be proven by testimony from witnesses who saw her personally affix stamps to an anti-McDonald mailing that Christoff sent out.

"Let's let the secretary of state work on that," Moncrief said. "We'll see what happens after that."