Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

A WEEK IN REVIEW: CLARK COUNTY:

County seeks a loyal lobbyist to call its own

Last time around, duo double-dipped with gaming giant, creating conflict

Clark County’s most pressing candidate search right now is for a new University Medical Center chief executive, but it’s not the only position available.

The county also is looking for a new lobbying firm, and the unwritten classified ad might read something like: WANTED — Skilled lobbyist for Clark County and/or University Medical Center, conflicts of interest discouraged.

Who is interested in the gig?

Not sure yet, but one lobbyist said to expect plenty of behind-the-scenes elbow-throwing. Whoever applies will have to keep in mind the county’s recent history with its lobbyist.

The county’s hired guns during last year’s legislative session, lobbying duo Josh Griffin and Tim Crowley, also represented gaming giant MGM Mirage. That potential conflict became a real problem when the lawmakers dealt with a bill to reduce the tax breaks for environmentally friendly construction projects. The county wanted to cut the tax incentives because those breaks cut deeply into tax revenue, but MGM Mirage, which is building the massive CityCenter, wanted as much of a tax break as possible.

The conflict left Griffin and Crowley more or less sidelined as advocates for the county on the issue. Ultimately, the Legislature lowered the “green” tax break, but the county was left to shoulder much of the burden in lost revenue.

County officials don’t plan to let such a situation arise again.

Sabra Smith-Newby, the county’s administrative services director, said the county has requested that lobbyists provide a list of their clients when they apply.

“It’s definitely going to be a question we are asking the potential applicants,” she said. “It’s something we are concerned about and something we are taking into account.”

Lobbyists must submit their proposals to the county by March 6.

What’s the most recent proof that the wheels of justice do, in fact, turn slowly?

How about last week’s delay in the UMC public corruption case? An unforeseen procedural glitch prevented a county grand jury from making a decision on whether to indict the hospital’s former chief executive, Lacy Thomas. Police suspect Thomas gave lucrative hospital contracts to friends and associates in Chicago in exchange for kickbacks. The investigation began in November 2006.

But don’t worry, those wheels do turn, however slowly. Prosecutors plan to finish presenting the case Tuesday, though any indictment probably won’t be made public until Wednesday.

What’s the latest with the county’s Children’s Advocacy Center?

For those who may have forgotten, the center abruptly halted its examinations of children for sexual abuse in October because of staffing problems. Specifically, sources familiar with the reasons for suspending the program said worries arose when county clerical staffers expressed concerns about the propriety of their role in assisting with the exams.

Advocates of the program criticized the county for its haste and its failure to provide more information about why it stopped the program. The advocacy center, next to the county’s family court facility near Pecos and Bonanza roads, provided a child-friendly environment for the exams intended to be less intimidating than a hospital emergency room.

Since October exams have been transferred to Sunrise Children’s Hospital.

That could be changing soon, though. Christine Skorupski, a spokeswoman for the county’s family services department, said a new contract with a group of medical experts would be ready for approval by March 4. That means sexual abuse exams could begin at the advocacy center next month.

The $843,600-a-year contract, based on an estimate of 780 exams annually, will be with Swift’s Children’s Emergency Network, which includes pediatric physicians James Swift and Neha Mehta, Skorupski said.

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