Columnist Jeff German: Let’s hope we see more indictments

Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 | 11:08 a.m.

Thursday's federal corruption indictment is sure to have a chilling effect on the local political scene.

How long will the Big Chill last?

That will be up to U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden and Ellen Knowlton, special agent in charge of the Las Vegas FBI office.

Both headlined a news conference Thursday night announcing a 28-count indictment that lays out a case of alleged greed, deceit and, worst of all, betrayal of the public's trust by County Commission Chairwoman Mary Kincaid-Chauncey and former commissioners Dario Herrera and Lance Malone.

Bogden and Knowlton also announced that two others have previously pleaded guilty in this political conspiracy to defraud the voters -- topless nightclub mogul Michael Galardi and former County Commissioner Erin Kenny, both of whom are cooperating in the investigation.

Bogden made it very clear that the feds, with the help of Galardi and Kenny, are just getting started.

"Where this leads time will tell," Bogden told reporters. "If you have individuals who are attempting to trade votes for money, that's wrong and that's something we can't tolerate in this community."

We've heard these words before from federal law enforcement authorities who made political corruption a priority.

In 1982, the last time the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office obtained political corruption indictments on this scale, there also was a big splash and tough talk that things were going to change around here.

But the Big Chill then only lasted a couple of years until the half-dozen elected officials accused of taking bribes from an undercover FBI agent either pleaded guilty or were convicted by a jury.

Then it was back to politics as usual in a part-time system of government that from its foundation breeds corruption.

It's a system that legally allows banks and casinos to put elected officials on their boards and pay them handsome salaries.

The system also allows a city councilman like Michael Mack to have so many private business relationships that he can't get through a single council meeting without having to abstain from voting a half-dozen or more times.

So it comes as no surprise that developers are able to use their money and clout to push through project after project without anyone thinking about the consequences of unchecked growth.

And we aren't surprised when a strip club operator like Galardi lavishes politicians with fat consulting contracts, unlimited campaign contributions and money under the table to stay in business.

We aren't surprised because we are unwilling to change the system.

Our only recourse, it seems, is to rely on federal authorities to clean things up.

Hopefully, Bogden and Knowlton won't stop with Thursday's indictment, because there are plenty of other sleazy operators willing to spread their money around town -- and plenty of other politicians willing to take it.

I say bring on more indictments.