Ethics panel queries Mack

Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003 | 11:29 a.m.

Las Vegas City Councilman Michael Mack this morning appeared before state ethics commissioners who are trying to determine whether Mack broke ethics rules in connection with business ties to Mayor Oscar Goodman's son.

The commissioners are to determine whether Mack was too vague in his disclosure of the potential conflict of interest and whether Mack initially intended to vote on Goodman's son's council agenda item despite the potential conflict of interest.

Mack's lawyer, Bruce Judd, told the ethics panel that there have been numerous instances in which other public officers from city council members to state legislators abstained without giving a whole lot of explanation.

He rattled off a list of instances where disclosures and abstentions were made, some without the lawmakers saying why.

"No one suggested that the disclosures were inadequate or that abstentions were improper," Judd said.

"(They) acted in a manner consistent with the way Mack acted."

The Ethics Commission was taking further testimony as the Sun went to press. Mack was expected to answer their questions later in the morning.

Mack was ordered to come before the state Ethics Commission as a result of an Aug. 6 vote in which he initially tried to vote on an item then only partially disclosed his relationship with lawyer Eric Goodman, son of Mayor Oscar Goodman, who was representing the agenda item applicant.

The item was to consider a company's request to place a billboard closer to residential property and adjacent billboards at Sahara Avenue near Paradise Road than allowed under Las Vegas code. Eric Goodman was representing the billboard company, Orion Outdoor Media.

At first Mack indicated that he was going to vote on the item because the relationship was not going to affect his vote, but he later abstained from the vote, as did Mayor Goodman. The item passed 5-0.

Las Vegas City Attorney Brad Jerbic testified today that Mack has "probably requested more advice (on disclosure) than anyone else on the council."

On the day in question, a deputy city attorney advising the council on zoning issues was concerned that Mack disclosed his relationship but planned to vote on the billboard issue involving Goodman's client. Jerbic determined "this would clearly be a disqualification issue."

Jerbic said for Mack to reveal more than just the fact they had the relationship would be more than what is required under state law. He said the attorney client privilege "is one of those special relationships -- confidential."

The commission initiated the hearing, the first time it has taken that step, alleging that Mack violated an advisory opinion he sought.

In March, Mack received an advisory opinion about his relationship with MK Squared, a public relations and advertising firm, and Mack had been advised to be specific with disclosures of potential conflicts of interest.

Mack's lawyer, Richard Wright, said in the Sun article in late October that Mack has a business relationship with Ross Goodman, Eric Goodman's brother.