Council members say allegations won’t affect them

Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 | 9:48 a.m.

Las Vegas City Council members expressed concern for the elected officials and their families and said the scandal in the county would not stop them from doing their jobs.

"All I can say is I feel sorry for those families," said Ward 3 Councilman Gary Reese. "When you're out there and you put your name on that line to file for public office you have to first tell your family be prepared for anything."

He said he didn't know how it would affect valley politics.

"It won't change how I do business. I meet with constituents, when they have questions of me I try to explain to the best of my ability, and that's what I'll continue to do. And I won't speak for anybody else," Reese said.

He also said it's up to the public to pay close attention to their elected officials, and not just when they're in the news.

"When these people come knock on your door (while campaigning), you should invite them in and ask questions," Reese said.

Ward 5 Councilman Lawrence Weekly said the situation was difficult for everyone involved.

"I don't like to see any elected official under fire because the jobs are hard enough," he said. "It's hard watching colleagues, whether they're in the municipality or not. ... Genuinely a lot of these people are very nice people."

Ward 1 Councilwoman Janet Moncrief said the public tolerance for charges of public corruption is low and getting lower as Las Vegas develops into a major city. That's a good thing, she said.

"The public should keep a close eye on their elected officials," she said. "Just like any other job, you have a supervisor."

She said it was heartening that none of the allegations appear to affect the council.

"We have a very good group working together," Moncrief said.

Ward 4 Councilman Larry Brown, Ward 2 Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald and Ward 6 Councilman Michael Mack, who represents the topless club Treasures as a consultant, could not be reached.

The FBI acknowledged that agents obtained some financial records of Mack and former city councilman Michael McDonald. Mack has not bee named in connection to the political corruption probe. Federal officials talked to McDonald about the probe.