Hatch Act review sought on Williams

Sito Negron

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003 | 9:33 a.m.

Las Vegas has assigned an attorney to check whether Assemblyman Wendell Williams, D-North Las Vegas, has violated the Hatch Act, which restricts partisan political activities by government employees whose programs receive federal funding.

The city reviewed the legalities surrounding Williams' position as management analyst with the Neighborhood Services Department, said Deputy City Manager Betsy Fretwell.

"This is just kind of a check-in," she said. The city initiated the latest review, she said, in part because of recent news stories about other elected officials in the valley who are employed at public institutions.

"So the timing is really associated with that, not the other issues we've been dealing with with Mr. Williams," Fretwell said. The city is investigating allegations by Williams that he was told by his supervisor to alter timecards that he said accurately reflected hours worked for the city while he was serving in the legislature.

The Hatch Act issue came up in the valley a few weeks ago when Knight Allen, a Las Vegas resident, requested an opinion regarding Assembly Speaker and Henderson Deputy Chief Richard Perkins.

Allen said he was just trying to make a point by requesting the opinion, which was dated Sept. 30 and stated that Perkins unknowingly violated the Hatch Act because his department has used federal grants for such items as laptops in patrol cars.

Perkins, who was not immediately available for comment, has said in previous articles that he purposely removed himself from the chain-of-command dealing with federal grants.

In fact, he said, Henderson developed a Hatch Act compliance program for him, using a Washington, D.C., legal firm. He said they plan to meet with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which oversees implementation of the Hatch Act.