Kincaid-Chauncey says she won’t quit

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003 | 11:24 a.m.

Mary Kincaid-Chauncey, Clark County Commission chairwoman, said Wednesday that if indicted in a federal corruption probe, she will not resign her post.

Kincaid-Chauncey is the only sitting commissioner identified as a target of the probe, which has focused on the relationship between the County Commission and strip club owner Michael Galardi. Three former commissioners -- Dario Herrera, Erin Kenny and Lance Malone -- have also been linked to the investigation. The four formed a majority on the commission from 1998 to 2000.

Also linked to the investigation is former Las Vegas City Councilman Michael McDonald. Sources close to the case have said indictments of the Las Vegas politicians could come this week or next week, and sources at the county said pressure is growing on Kincaid-Chauncey to voluntarily leave the chairwoman's position if an indictment against her is issued.

But Kincaid-Chauncey, who became chairwoman in January after serving two years of her second four-year term, ruled that out, at least for now.

"I am not going to resign," she said. "An indictment is just an accusation. This is still America, and you're still presumed innocent."

A guilty plea or verdict would lead to Kincaid-Chauncey's removal from office, but a simple four-vote majority on the seven-member nonpartisan commission would strip the chairmanship from the Democrat.

By statute, selection of the commission chairman and vice chairman is made in a public discussion and vote, although historically much of the manuevering for the position happens behind the scenes.

Kincaid-Chauncey is one of four Democrats on the commission. There are three Republicans. The vice chairman is Chip Maxfield, a Republican.

Maxfield and other commissioners either did not return phone calls Wednesday or declined comment.

Sources at the county said County Manager Thom Reilly met with Kincaid-Chauncey on behalf of other commissioners to discuss the political ramifications of an indictment -- and to ask her to surrender the chairmanship.

Reilly declined comment, even to confirm the meeting had taken place.

Several key figures in the investigation have already been indicted.

Malone was indicted Aug. 28 in a parallel federal investigation in San Diego, and he has pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud, extortion and racketeering in the case.

Galardi, who owns Cheetahs, the Leopard Lounge and Jaguars in Las Vegas and Cheetahs in San Diego, originally pleaded not guilty to the same charges changed his plea to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He agreed to serve as a witness for the prosecution in the investigation.

Galardi's San Diego manager, John D'Intino, pleaded guilty to the same charge and also is cooperating with prosecutors.