Housing official’s address forces his exit from board

Thursday, June 26, 2003 | 9:25 a.m.

There had been longstanding rumors that Las Vegas Housing Authority board member Christopher Hoye did not live within the city limits as required for the board position, and city officials said they confirmed the rumors Wednesday.

As a result, Mayor Oscar Goodman has asked for and said he is expecting to receive today Hoye's resignation from the board. Hoye, a Metro Police lieutenant, apparently has not lived at his Las Vegas address since his 1999 divorce, city spokesman David Riggleman said.

Since 1990, the Housing Authority has required that all of its board members live within the city limits.

"There has been speculation for some time that Mr. Hoye did not live in the city, but we were only able to confirm it yesterday," Riggleman said today. "He had maintained that he lived in the city. It was a shock to us."

Hoye could not be reached for comment this morning.

Goodman's announcement for Hoye's replacement could come as early as today. A Housing Authority Board meeting is scheduled for Friday.

"This is just another hurdle or impediment I am facing to get this board on an even keel," Goodman said this morning. "I am not happy about it. I have to get this board together and trained to do its job properly."

Goodman was alluding to a federal Department of Housing and Urban Development report criticizing contracting and oversight procedures of the agency between 1999 and 2002.

Goodman has asked HUD to conduct a full audit of the agency and provide training for its members, which HUD officials have committed to do in July.

Goodman previously replaced three of the five board members -- two whose terms expired -- with Las Vegas Constable Robert "Bobby G" Gronauer, Federal Public Defender Franny Forsman and commercial developer Don Davidson.

This leaves current Vice Chairwoman Beatrice Turner, who was appointed last November, as the only member left from the board that was in charge when the HUD report came out earlier this month.

City officials said one of the problems with confirming Hoye's residence is that he is a police officer, and that the home addresses of cops are closely guarded to protect them and their families from potential retribution of criminals and others.

The Sun has obtained Hoye's old city address and his current address, but will not print them. The old address is in the city limits in the vicinity of West Lake Mead Boulevard and Interstate 15. The new address is far outside the city limits, closer to Henderson and South of Blue Diamond Road. Hoye lived in Las Vegas when he was appointed as a commissioner in May 1998. He was reappointed to a second four-year term last June.

Clark County Family Court records show that Hoye and his wife, Karen Hoye, were divorced in November 1999. She stayed at the old address and he moved, city officials said.

"He told me he was advised that because he was a city resident at the time he was appointed it was all right" to remain at the post, Goodman said of his phone conversation with Hoye that led to asking for the resignation.