Homeland Security chief Bussell quits

Monday, May 17, 2004 | 11:07 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Jerry Bussell, Nevada's chief of homeland security, who resigned from his $102,000 a year job on Friday, denied this morning that he used his position to help a communications company get a government contract.

"There is not enough money in the world to damage my reputation," said Bussell, who submitted his resignation to Gov. Kenny Guinn last week, a move that takes effect on May 28.

Bussell was commenting on a column in the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Sunday that hinted he may have used his position to benefit his wife's Reno law firm. His wife's firm represents a company that could be a bidder for local law enforcement communications systems contracts.

"If the governor thought there was any impropriety, he would have fired me in a second," said Bussell.

Greg Bortolin, press secretary to Guinn, said the homeland security commission has never considered giving a contract to M/A-Com, the company represented by the law firm Bussell's wife works for. "It never came before the commission. It is not an issue." Bussell is chairman of that commission.

Bortolin said Guinn became aware of the situation in the past few days. He said Bussell's resignation was his own decision, "100 percent."

Bussell said he resigned because he has accomplished what he set out to do 18 months ago when hired. He said the 23-member commission will not award any money to communications companies but will divide the money between governments with the state retaining 20 percent.

Bussell said today he may have introduced Jim Endres a lobbyist for M/A-Com to Frank Siracusa, director of the state Division of Emergency Management. Endres, whom Bussell described as a good friend, works for the firm McDonald, Carano, Wilson, where Bussell's wife, a lawyer, is employed.

Siracusa said he knew Endres worked for the firm Bussell's wife did but did not know he represented a communications company. He said Endres later asked if homeland security money could be used for communications equipment, but he said Bussell never suggested Endres be given a contract.

Siracusa said local governments will decide what companies to purchase communications equipment from. Clark County law enforcement agencies will receive $9 million from the state for homeland security equipment. Guinn didn't name a replacement for Bussell.

Bussell, a retired Army colonel, was named to the new post in November 2002 and led the effort to protect Nevada against attacks. In his letter of resignation, Bussell said, "Through our collective efforts, the citizens of this state are safer since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001."

Bussell was chairman of the Nevada Homeland Security Commission, which will complete its work on the Office of Domestic Preparedness Grant Program by the end of May, the governor said.