Goodman opens case with firm defense

Sito Negron

Wednesday, May 12, 2004 | 11:02 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's ethics hearing began this morning with the mayor speaking calmly in his own defense.

The state Ethics Commission is conducting the two-day hearing to determine whether Goodman broke ethics rules by playing host at a party for his son and Councilman Michael Mack's business.

"I love my family but would never do anything unethical to further their interests," Goodman said. "I draw a very firm line ... to make sure there is not even a hint of impropriety."

He told the committee that while he does not believe some of the charges even warrant a hearing, "believe me, I am very humble as I stand before you today."

Goodman initially took a hard line against the charges, which were released to the public April 2. That day he had a press conference during which he lashed out at journalists who had been reporting on the story and the ethics commission's executive director Stacy Jennings. At one point during that press conference, Goodman said of Jennings "there's a screw loose."

Jennings at the dais to the left of the commission chairman Rick Hsu, set her jaw as a videotape of that press conference was played for the commission this morning.

After the tape ended, Goodman said the press conference was a bad move on his part.

"I apologized after that. I don't think it is appropriate for somebody in my position to lose their temper," he said.

"This went to my integrity ... I was steamed," he said.

There were very few questions early on as Goodman opened with a statement that lasted about 20 minutes.

That was followed by a series of videotapes showing Goodman responding to the allegations in press conferences and television interviews.

The hearing, which drew about a dozen journalists and about twice that many interested government officials and Las Vegas residents, began at 9 a.m. with Goodman sitting with his hands clasped to his chin.

If the commission finds against Goodman, it will issue a written opinion and can impose a civil penalty. Goodman can then file to take the matter before a judge, who can address such issues as whether the committee unduly exercised its power, or whether it was arbitrary or capricious in its actions.

Goodman also could be removed from office if found guilty of three or more "willful" violations of ethics rules. He is facing eight separate charges.

Goodman faces the commission hearing because of allegations that he benefited iPolitix, a business in which his son, Ross Goodman, and Mack have an interest. Goodman handed out invitations with his title and acted as a host at a company party during a Jan. 22 U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington, D.C.

The company's product is a computer disc that allows politicians to track peoples' interest in specific issues. It used as a promotion a disc featuring material owned by the city that the mayor provided to iPolitix at no cost.

Jennings' investigation also raised questions about a $100,000 contract between Goodman and Southern Wine and Spirits, with the money to be split between the city and a school co-founded by his wife, the mayor's use of a Cadillac loaned to the city, and a magazine promotion in which Goodman offered to rename a street for the contest winner.

Goodman's defense, as outlined in his written communications with the Commission on Ethics, is that in the case of the party and elements of the complaint associated with it, he did not willfully break any rules. He has dismissed the other charges against him as beyond the purview of the commission's investigation, since Rose's initial complain involved only the iPolitix matter.

Goodman's defense of the iPolitix party is based on the argument that a violation of the ethics law can only take place if he is in a position of power over the people who were invited. Since they were other mayors, and not under his jurisdiction, there cannot be a violation, he argues.

However, Jennings' contention is that Goodman's son would not have been in a position to have the party if not for the mayor's involvement, thus Goodman secured for his son an "unwarranted privilege or advantage."

The mayor attempted to dismiss the other charges as unrelated to the original complaint, and therefore beyond Jennings' authority to investigate.

A state rule allows the commission's executive director to "investigate relevant issues and facts beyond those presented in the ethics complaint."

Goodman's position is that the way the rule reads, the "relevant issues and facts" must be related to the original complaint -- in this case, the business party for iPolitix.

After Goodman's opening statement, in which he outlined his defense to the main allegation about iPolitix, he said that the other charges against him were "a little bit silly ... but that doesn't mean they are not serious."

The Ethics Commission members hearing the case are Hsu, Caren Jenkins, James Kosinski, and Mark Hutchison. Of the four, Hutchison is the only one from Southern Nevada. It will take three of the four votes -- a simple majority -- for a finding that Goodman broke ethics rules.

The hearings will continue through Thursday in the Gaming Control Board meeting room in the Grant Sawyer Building, 555 E. Washington.

The proceedings will be carried in abbreviated form on Las Vegas ONE, Cox Cable channels 1 and 19, from 7 p.m. to 10:30 pm. today and Thursday, with complete rebroadcasts starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.