Party for mayor’s son latest target of ethics critic

Dan Kulin

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004 | 9:17 a.m.

A Clark County man with a history of challenging the ethics of local politicians is taking on Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman again.

Robert Rose filed a complaint Tuesday with the state Ethics Commission, alleging Goodman broke state ethics laws when he used his elected position to invite fellow mayors to a party sponsored by and promoting his son's business during the National Conference of Mayors in Washington.

Rose, a 77-year-old retired Mercedes mechanic, said he hopes the Ethics Commission will conduct a hearing on the matter and will rule on whether Goodman abused his office to profit the private business.

Goodman on Tuesday remained steadfast in his opinion that he did nothing wrong, and added that the city attorney has also determined Goodman did nothing wrong. That could not be confirmed, however, because City Attorney Brad Jerbic did not return the Sun's call seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.

At least one ethics expert says Goodman apparently did violate state ethics laws by using his title as mayor to help promote a relative's business.

"It's the use of office for gain or advantage the rest of us don't have," University of Nevada, Las Vegas ethics professor Craig Walton said. "He crossed the line."

Ethics Commission Executive Director Stacy Jennings said she is legally prohibited from confirming or denying a complaint has been lodged. Complaints are made public after the commission decides whether to hold a hearing on a case, which typically takes 60 days after a complaint is filed, she said.

First-time offenders of the state ethics laws can be fined up to $5,000.

In his complaint, Rose notes that on Jan. 22 Goodman was in Washington attending a U.S. Conference of Mayor's meeting when he promoted a cocktail party for the company iPolitix -- a partnership between Goodman's son Ross Goodman, Las Vegas Councilman Michael Mack and a California company called iMedia International.

Goodman has said that during the conference he handed out invitations to the company's party. The invitations included Goodman's name and title of mayor on them, he has said.

Rose and Walton said Goodman's actions appear to be a clear violation of the ethics laws.

"He used his name and title to promote a business for his son," Rose said. "He's not supposed to use the title or position to influence other mayors or whoever attended that party."

"But whether he did it willfully or unwillfully, that's the question."

The commission would have to find there was a willful violation of the ethics laws to levy a fine, Jennings said.

Goodman has repeatedly said that he participated in the party to help his son.

Rose said he decided to file a complaint after reading about Goodman's actions in the media.

"I don't want him tarred and feathered, but he shouldn't have done it," Rose said.

Rose has filed numerous complaints over the actions, or perceived actions, of local politicians over the years.

His complaints have included successful challenges, such as the one that resulted in Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates and former Commissioner Lance Malone being cited for failing to disclose relationships with applicants vying for concession contracts at McCarran International Airport.

More recently, Rose was unsuccessful with a complaint against Goodman last year, in which Rose alleged the mayor didn't disclose a relationship with a strip club before a vote related to that business. Ethics Commission members decided there was no evidence Goodman had a financial or business relationship with the club, the Crazy Horse Too.

Goodman said this most recent complaint against him was "par for the Rose course."

"My conduct was reviewed by the city attorney and he found there was no impropriety," Goodman said. "I hope the Ethics Commission agrees with the city attorney. In my heart I know I did nothing wrong."