Editorial: Right not to delay ethics task force

Thursday, May 22, 2003 | 9:08 a.m.

After the FBI last week raided two local adult entertainment clubs as part of an ongoing political corruption investigation, the Clark County Commission could have postponed the work of an ethics task force it appointed May 5. Appropriately, however, the county decided against a "wait and see" approach and is moving forward.

The recommendations of a 1999 task force were adopted but the intervening years have revealed loopholes and enforcement issues. The new task force has the important task of tightening the regulations and adding some teeth. Motivating its creation was the lobbying by former commissioner Erin Kenny on behalf of developer Jim Rhodes. The earlier task force intended to make it illegal for ex-commissioners to lobby the county within a year of their leaving office. The new task force will recommend ways to close loopholes and add enforcement.

We hope it also looks at issues arising from the FBI raids. For example, the raids motivated two-term Las Vegas Councilman Michael McDonald to announce that he has been a paid consultant to the owner of strip clubs. The task force should recommend guidelines -- disclosure, at the very least -- for public officials regarding any consulting work they are offered. Consulting is a legitimate line of work, but it can raise conflict-of-interest issues for public officials.