County to convene new ethics panel

Friday, May 30, 2003 | 11:11 a.m.

Clark County will convene a new ethics panel June 11 and could have new rules to consider by the end of the summer, officials said Thursday.

The Ethics Task Force will revisit rules established four years ago that restrict lobbying by Clark County commissioners leaving office. The rules banned lobbying for a one-year cooling off period for a commissioner who leaves office, but only on issues considered during the commissioner's tenure.

The rules also carry no penalties for commissioners who violate them. County staff has said Commissioner Erin Kenny violated those rules by lobbying for developer Jim Rhodes in his effort to build homes on the edge of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Kenny has denied breaking the rules.

The ethics panel also will consider clarification on when an elected official should or must abstain from voting on an issue.

Commissioners Rory Reid and Bruce Woodbury led the effort to convene the revamped ethics panel.

Members of the panel will include Dick Morgan, University of Nevada at Las Vegas law school dean, who will serve as task force chairman. Also on the panel will be Craig Walton, UNLV ethics professor; John Hiatt, Enterprise Town Advisory Board chairman; Betty Pardo of the League of Women Voters; Danny Thompson, Nevada AFL-CIO executive secretary; Randy Capurro of Brown & Brown Insurance; and other community and business leaders.