Editorial: Jon Ralston on a legal skirmish, a political defector and a gushing letter from an ex-treasurer

Friday, Feb. 17, 2006 | 12:32 p.m.

Cleaning out the political notebook after a busy week:

But it is this excerpt from a letter sent this week to Mayor Oscar Goodman that really has them in a snit: "However, we have already discovered several facts and transactions, which apparently were not reported by the press, that lead us to believe there were other, unreported expenditures of City monies and resources for the benefit of Mr. Walters."

That is enough to frighten any elected official, even if he or she has done nothing wrong.

And here's another scary development: The law firm appointed by the attorney general to oversee the case has expertise in real estate transactions, so if there is anything untoward about any land deals, Senn Meuelemans will find it. But the firm has no expertise in criminal matters, so it retained Cal Dunlap.

Who is he? A former Washoe County district attorney, now practicing in Reno, and with a reputation for being tough on criminals, including public officials. He has battled some of the finest legal minds in Nevada and won, including the late Harry Claiborne, coincidentally a mentor of one Oscar Goodman.

This is going to be something to watch.

Boggs McDonald has retained Billy Rogers, the erstwhile Democratic campaign favorite whose falling out with Sen. Harry Reid has necessitated a move to the right.

Rogers helped ex-Democratic Assemblyman David Goldwater in his unsuccessful run against Boggs McDonald two years ago and now is busy helping several Republicans, including some legislators, seeking re-election. He also has entered into a partnership with GOP operative Steve Wark, and the move to Boggs McDonald cements his standing as a grass roots operative Republicans once coveted and now can brandish.

Talk about an eclectic list of backers. My only question: Janison supported the now-forgotten Eric Nadelstern for superintendent, so why isn't the shadow superintendent, Jim Rogers, on this list?

"As a former State of Nevada Treasurer I know that Mark's more than 20 years of real-life financial experience has prepared him to be a successful and effective State Treasurer," Seale writes in the pitch.

Seale does not mention DeStefano's bankruptcy as one of those experiences, but the candidate himself has said it made him a better businessman. Nor does Seale mention another Republican who has announced her candidacy - Controller Kathy Augustine. Maybe that's because Seale tried to get the controller's job abolished.

That, or because Augustine was impeached.

Jon Ralston hosts the news discussion program "Face to Face With Jon Ralston" on Las Vegas ONE and also publishes the daily e-mail newsletter "Ralston- Flash.com." His column for the Las Vegas Sun appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Ralston can be reached at 870-7997 or through e-mail at ralston@vegas.com.