Mayor sheds light on ethics panel meeting

Friday, July 16, 2004 | 9:26 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman at his weekly news conference Thursday shed a little light on his closed meeting this week with the Nevada Ethics Commission.

He said members of the commission have been invited to appear Wednesday before the City Council and explain to the council ethics disclosures, focusing on "abstentions" -- that is, when not to vote and exactly what to disclose about that decision so constituents have a satisfactory explanation.

Goodman, saying he called for the meeting with the commission, declined once again to waive confidentiality on the subject, saying it would "set a bad precedent."

By law, public officials can request closed advisory sessions with the commission, and the commissioners cannot disclose what was said.

Goodman said he would "have no problem" talking about the matter when state ethics officials make a presentation on conflicts of interest before the council's regularly scheduled Wednesday public meeting.

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