Guinn to look into allegations about Rawson

Friday, July 29, 2005 | 10:52 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn will look into a controversy in Hawaii involving former state Sen. Ray Rawson, now a member of the Nevada Gaming Commission, but the governor "has the utmost faith" in Rawson, the governor's spokesman said today.

Guinn named Rawson to the state Gaming Commission earlier this year and the former senator has become the founding dean of the Hawaii College of Dental Medicine in Honolulu.

Rawson, who could not be reached for comment, spends part of his time in Hawaii, and that has raised questions whether he can handle his duties on the gaming commission.

Greg Bortolin, press secretary to Guinn, said the gaming commission is a part-time job. "There is no indication of anybody questioning Sen. Rawson's devotion to duty," he said.

The gaming commission meets once a month either in Las Vegas or Carson City. Rawson was named to the commission May 2 and records show he has attended every meeting. Some of the other members have full-time jobs outside the commission.

Bortolin said the controversy in Hawaii has nothing to do with the performance of Rawson on the gaming commission. Hawaii is only a five-hour flight away from Las Vegas, the press secretary said. It would be no different than traveling to California or another state on the West Coast, he said.

By the same token, he said Nevada's congressional delegation is five hours away from Washington, D.C., by plane.

A news service called Pacific Business News reported Rawson moved to Honolulu where he is the founding dean of the Hawaii College of Dental Medicine, scheduled to open next year.

Rawson also helped start the dental school at UNLV.

The dental college and the Hawaii College of Pharmacy are both owned by Pacific Educational Services.

The Pacific Business News reported on July 15 that the Hawaii State Office of Consumer Protection is investigating complaints about unfair and deceptive business practices at the pharmacy school. The dental school, yet to be opened, was not involved although it is owned by the same company.

Denise "DeeDee" Criswell and David Monroe, founders of the Hawaii College of Pharmacy, formerly worked at the University of Southern Nevada, an accredited college of pharmacy in Henderson. Criswell was financial officer at the school and Monroe was a librarian.

Rawson served 20 years in the Legislature but was defeated in the 2004 Republican primary by then Assemblyman Bob Beers.