Discussion: 10 comments so far…

1. By VegasFan

   10/17/08 at 5:08 p.m.

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   Chris Lee is a good man and will make a fine judge. He is no more or less qualified than Jonathan McArthur. Curiously, Lee is running in North Las Vegas....a city where a vast majority of individuals who are processed through the system are of Hispanic or African-American decent. There is something to be said for the fact that so many of our young, ethnic men find themselves faced with felony charges that take away their right to vote, participate in the system or hold good jobs. I'm not saying that Chris Lee won't be fair, but here was a golden chance for the LVSun when faced with two equal candidates to endorse the one and only candidate of African American decent. It would have made him the only Justice of the Peace in North Las Vegas of African American decent. There is much that can be said about faith in the system -- a faith that certainly would have been bolstered by having some diversity on the bench especially in North Las Vegas where it is sadly absent. Lee is a career prosecutor...he worked under David Roger where the policy of removing African Americans from the jury has been challenged on a consistent basis. LVSUN had a chance to do something good...they did not exercise that opportunity.

2. By rcvega

   10/19/08 at 4:59 p.m.

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   Too bad Chris Lee took the low road by never debating Mr. Macarthur. Candidates shouldn't hide from the people. Mr. Macarthur had about 30 times more contact with the people. I think the Sun has endorsed the wrong candidate on this one. Thank god that after all is the poeple who vote and not the newspapers. The people saw Jonathan Macarthur walking door to door.

3. By misteryhill

   10/27/08 at 8:23 a.m.

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   Sandra Allred-DiGiacomo is the best candidate for Henderson Justice of the Peace.

   I know this because I have been in law enforcement in Southern Nevada for almost 20 years. I have worked closely with Sandy and know how tough on crime she is. But I also know that she can recognize when someone needs a second chance.

   Most of all, Sandy is not beholden to any special interest groups whatsoever. Her opponent cannot say the same thing.

   Gibson is the brother of Mayor Jim Gibson. Mayor Gibson has been very strong in helping his brother get elected. In fact so strong that businesses in the Henderson community were told not to provide any campaign support to Sandy or the Mayor's office would no longer be friendly to them. Sounds fair, huh?

   Should we vote to keep it in the family where now the Mayor will have direct influence over a Judge?

   And how about all the dirty tricks that David Gibson and his cohorts have played with campaign signs? I have seen Sandy's large A-Frame signs torn down all over town while Gibson's signs stand right there in the same place. The signs get put back up and less than 24 hours later they are back down again. Nice, clean race, sir.

   Win at all costs, right? Is that what we want from a Judge? Shouldn't they show the ability to be fair and without ethical compromise?

   Lastly, David Gibson's own resume should tell you enough...

   First off, him being a family court hearing master has nothing to do with the criminal arena or the civil arena in Justice Court. He has no experience in criminal procedure, rules of evidence, fourth amendment, etc... That's like saying because someone knows how to drive a car, they can race at Daytona.

   Secondly, he has been a defense attorney for 27 years. This might be enough to disqualify him alone. If elected, Gibson will come to the bench with bias towards hardcore criminals that prey on our community. He will not have the community's best interests in mind, he will be soft towards the bad guy.

   This is precisely why all Southern Nevada Police Associations endorsed Sandra Allred-DiGiacomo over Gibson. Even the Henderson Police Department Officer's Association endorsed Sandy over their own Mayor's brother. It's because they know the world of trouble that Gibson would bring if he is elected.

   The Sun didn't do their homework on this one. Either that or they got a nice call from Mayor Gibson himself. Dirty, dirty, dirty...

4. By JamesG

   11/2/08 at 12:34 a.m.

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   mysteryhill-
   Why do you feel it necessary to spread lies about a good person? These comments about Gibson and his cohorts taking down signs is absurd. Do you seriously expect anyone to believe that Mayor Gibson tried to strong arm local businesses so that they would not support Sandy's campaign? Mayor Gibson has done more for Henderson during his time in office than any mayor Henderson has had in my lifetime (I've lived here for 30+ years). He is honest and ethical in everything he does. Your comments are truly without merit. You say you've been in law enforcement for 20 years, yet you make baseless allegations, without repercussion, by hiding your real name. You should be ashamed of yourself. Read David Gibson's own resume again. He doesn't have any experience in criminal procedure, rules of evidence fourth amendment etc? Did you skip over the part where he has been a trial lawyer for over 20 years? He was trying cases when Sandy was a baby. He even worked as a District attorney for a few years. Where do you get your BS information? It seems you make it up. Gibson lives in Henderson, and has lived here his whole life. His whole family lives here, including his grandchildren. Pull your head out, man--bias toward hardcore criminals? Do you think he wants the bad guys roaming the streets of Henderson, committing crimes against his family and friends? Sir, you truly are lost. When you resort to name calling and false accusations, it shows that you are feeble minded and that you have no integrity. It's sad that we have people like you in local law enforcement.

5. By davidgibsonsr

   11/5/08 at 5:38 p.m.

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   mysteryhill,
   I can only guess that your "law enforsement" involvement has been as a security guard at a vacant lot. Otherwise, I am sure you would have done something other than opine that you know this and that.

   Sandy asked me about the sign problem. I lost many signs too. I did not tear down or influence anyone to remove her signs. I told her that and she said she believed me.

   My brother is the Mayor. He didn't threaten anyone. You should use your superior police skills and look up the Justice of the Peace Candidates financial reports. You would then be able to surmise, using your superior security guard skills, that she actually raised more money than I did.

   I like and respect Sandy. I worked with her when she first came to the DA's Office and was the deputy sent to attend Drug Court. She ran an honest and hard fought campaign. I also like her husband and I even met her parents. They are all very good people. I don't believe they think that I had anything to do with her signs.

   She has put alot of Henderson people in jail for a long time. It isn't unreasonable and is more realistic to think that she has made some enemies. I know that in my capacity as a Dependency Judge for three years, I have made some. They have torn down my signs, defaced my signs and even stolen my rebarr. My sign person is a fireman, and an honest man.

   I am also an honest person. Prosecutors and security guards don't have a monopoly on honesty and community values.

   I look forward to serving my community, a community I grew up in, participated in and love. I don't know which place you have been a security guard at, but you have not paid attention to Henderson much in your important career in "law enforcement". My family is represented on the Henderson Police Force. I have nearly half of the force that supports my candidacy. I also, on my own, was interviewed and endorsed by every other group that is interested in Henderson. They are all good people who care more about how to make Henderson a better place than spreading untruths and poorly thought out ideas.

   I was a trial lawyer for over 25 years. I conducted complex trials, many murder trials, robbery trials and any other crime you can think of. I did it honestly. There are two sides to trials. They are both governed by our constitution. They are both important. Because I was a defense lawyer for poor people doesn't mean I am not honest. In fact, it means I am more of a guard than you are.

   As for the bashing you have done in your writings about people of my faith, the only explaination for your attitude is that you are obviously a biggot. I guess you think there was some sort of evil conspiracy behind the election of our new president. Sorry Mr. Security Guard, he won because more honest people voted for him than against him. Finally, apartied is dead from the earth, except maybe in your home.
   David Gibson, Sr. Justice of the Peace Elect, Henderson, Department 3

6. By misteryhill

   11/6/08 at 8:53 a.m.

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   Wow. Most impressive. Enjoy your office.

7. By HendersonFiveO

   11/6/08 at 11:55 p.m.

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   Misteryhill,

   Don't worry about the new guy so much. We will be watching him very closely here in Henderson. Funny when the cops have to watch the judges.

   But I know there is merit to some of what you have said. In fact, I think the Southern Nevada Public Corruption Task Force is aware of some things too. But you probably already know that since we work for the same place.

   Good luck to you, a true servant of the public.

   Mr. Gibson, you are showing your anger so much that it only makes people think that there's something to what has been said. He who defends himself by making personal attacks is likely the one with the most to hide. Misteryhill never called you names or attacked anything other than your credibility and fitness for the office.

   You have such a reputation for losing it when you get upset and it shows. Didn't you read the rules for the posts? "Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language." But I guess that doesn't apply to you since you're a Judge to be now, huh?

   For someone that is so "honest" and supposed to be so well respected to make a post on here speaking the way you have is shameful. You really want your family and friends seeing you stoop like that?

   And by the way, I know your fireman friend and you might want to take another look at him. He probably left some fingerprints. (Hint hint...) And last I checked, his truck has a license plate doesn't it? Surveillance is such a wonderful tool.

8. By dsgjr

   11/7/08 at 12:30 p.m.

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   Cops have to watch judges? Are you implying Judge Gibson is a criminal?

   Clearly, you believe that a Public Defender can't make a good judge, but it is ironic that you think a career prosecutor has no bias. You just agree with that sort of bias.

   Mysteryhill's statement that Mayor Gibson unduly influenced business owners in Henderson is a lie. Can't you see the irony when you scold Judge Gibson for abusive language but you don't think it is abusive to call Mayor Gibson unethical and falsely accuse Judge Gibson of criminal activity? When you insult someone's family, it tends to get a heated response. Likewise, when you falsely accuse someone of a crime.

   Your post implies both of you are HPD. It also implies that surveillance was conducted by HPD of Ms. DiGiacomo's signs. I wonder, was an equal use of taxpayer dollars given to surveiling Judge Gibson's signs? Several hundred of them were stolen or vandilized.

   If you would take an honest look at Judge Gibson's experience and public service, you will have to concede, if you are honest, that he was/is the right choice for Justice Court.

   Judge Gibson has no experience in criminal procedure, etc., are you serious? Your credibility diappears when you tell a whopper that big. Anyone who read something that ridiculous or your baseless accusations leveled at the Mayor would question everything you said in your post. Does it suprise you then that Judge Gibson didn't believe that you were a police officer? The security guard dig might have made you mad, but does it even compare to your false attacks on the Gibsons?

   You think that everyone who gets arrested is guilty, right? Obviously, you want a career prosecutor on the bench rather than a career public defender. But I know a lot of other Henderson Police Officers, and they don't hold my career in criminal defense against me. Your bias clouds your credibility.

   I believe that many of your fellow officers aren't exactly satisfied with the way endorsements are being given by HPD. Most officers I know are brave public servants and I would be completely suprised if any of them would make a cowardly anonymous attack against a duly elected Judge.

   If you can take a step back from the personal attacks and insinuation, you might see how out of touch you are. Judge Gibson won the election decisively. Henderson residents obviously trust the Gibson family to serve admirably. Your insinuations of wrong doing against the Gibsons are shameful.

   If you were brave enough to reveal your identity, neither Mayor Gibson or Judge Gibson are the type of person who would hold it against you or seek some kind of petty vendetta. Sure, Judge Gibson might post a fiery response to a blog entry to defend his family name, but for him it would end there.

   Watch and you will see that a career public defender can make for a very good judge.

   David Gibson Jr., Esq.

9. By JamesG

   11/7/08 at 3:24 p.m.

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   Just a side note----
   I suppose this discussion could have taken place on the private emails--where it is okay for mystery hill to call me a "pole-smoker", and put his dislike of Mormons in writing. Funny stuff.

10. By JamesG

    11/7/08 at 3:49 p.m.

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    Hello,
    
    The user misteryhill sent the following message to you via Las Vegas Sun:
    
    ==============================
    
    I personally know of three business owners who were told by the mayor that they would not be "friendly" anymore if they contributed towards Sandy's campaign. So call me a liar if you wish but it is you who does not know.
    
    And believe what you wish about the campaign signs. Try to explain to yourself why Sandy's huge a-frame sign on the side of the freeway at 95/Horizon kept getting torn down? IT would get put back up and within 24 hours, back down again. It can't happen from wind, they are planted in the ground with rebar. Or maybe it was just some unruly teenagers time and time again? Yeah--right.
    
    And a few days later Gibson had a large a-frame sign right there in that spot that never got touched.
    
    Try to explain why there is framing for a large sign at Mission/College that has no candidate on it but is conveniently placed to block view of Sandy's sign.
    
    Try to explain why Sandy's signs all over Henderson have been mysteriously disappearing?
    
    These are all things that I personally know have happened. The only beneficiary is Gibson. In fact we have pretty much narrowed it down to being the guy that is running the campaign signs for Gibson. I would call that a crony.
    
    So believe what you wish, the election is over and your fraud won. Let's just wait and see how tough on crime your good old get out the Mormon vote buddy boy is.
    
    And as far as the chip on my shoulder, you are the farthest from the truth. But I do get a chip on my shoulder when I know that good, honest people are being cheated. That's kind of how cops are. We don't like the innocent being victimized.
    
    Gibson is a good old boy, even the Sun and RJ admit it. And that sir, makes you a good old boy's pole smoker.
    
    Shoo fly---
    
    (Mystery Hill email)