Editorial: A slap on the wrist

Saturday, June 12, 2004 | 12:01 p.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

June 12 - 13, 2004

In March a two-person panel of the Nevada Ethics Commission reviewed seven allegations against Clark County Recorder Fran Deane and determined that six of them were valid. The panel then ordered that Deane appear before the full commission for a formal hearing. Last week Deane and the commission negotiated a settlement. Deane, who had retained attorneys to fight the charges, admitted to one violation, that of trying to personally profit from her public position. In exchange, the commission agreed in a split vote to cancel the hearing and fine the recorder $5,000.

Las Vegas attorney Mark Hutchinson, a member of the commission, said the fine sends a "very strong message" to other public office holders. We hold the opposite view. In view of the very serious allegations against Deane, the commission should have gone ahead with the full hearing, which could have resulted in her removal from office.

The charges against Deane stemmed from her attempts to start a private company that would have allowed citizens to obtain documents from her office over the Internet -- for a fee, which would have profited her personally. At the same time, she was alleged to have blocked the county's plan to provide the same service, for free. She was also charged with favoring title companies, which had supported her campaign, and with pressuring her employees to favor the title companies.

The evidence against Deane was so strong, and the charges so egregious, that last year we called for her to resign. The fact that she can continue in office after her outrageous conduct sends a very weak message indeed.