Thursday, April 08, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JANE ANN MORRISON: Goodman on defensive not one of Vegas' best acts

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman reverted to his previous life at his news conference on Friday.

Suddenly he was the defense attorney of yesteryear, the master of misdirection, the mob mouthpiece indignantly lashing out. But this time it was on his own behalf that he was charging government persecution and conspiracy.

Goodman's shtick is unlikely to work in front of the Nevada Ethics Commission on May 12.

This panel consists of five attorneys. Three are from Northern Nevada, where the "colorful mayor of Las Vegas" hasn't won hearts and minds with his antics and is viewed as an "only in Vegas" sideshow.

Those attorneys are going to see through some of the mayoral rantings as Goodman represents a foolish client: himself.

The most significant aspect of the ethics complaint is that he used his position as mayor to attract people to a party he hosted Jan. 22 during the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Goodman insisted no taxpayer dollars were used to attract customers to his son Ross Goodman's new business, iPolitix. "I received not one cent," Goodman declared.

Nobody said he did.

The mayor of Las Vegas would not have hosted a party for just anybody. That's what makes it a violation of the ethics law, which says politicians shouldn't use their position to grant "unwarranted privileges" to relatives.

If Ross Goodman had invited people from the mayors conference without his dad's name on the invitation, far fewer than 30 would have attended. They came because it was an Oscar party.

(The adult children of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and Gov. Kenny Guinn undoubtedly have benefited in their careers by their connections to their sires. But as far as we know, their sires haven't overtly shilled for their kids' businesses.)

The Ethics Commission members who will be questioning Goodman are Chairman Rick Hsu, James Kosinski, Elizabeth Gonzalez, Mark Hutchison, and Caren Jenkins. It should be grand theater as the five attorneys challenge the former mob lawyer.

Three other commissioners are sidelined.

Bill Flangas, a retired engineer, and George Keele, an attorney, were on the preliminary screening panel to decide whether the complaint should be dismissed out of hand. Since they've both recommended the full panel should look at the party, they won't be voting again.

Merle Berman won't be making any ethical decisions about Goodman because she told Chairman Hsu she had a conflict, citing her "close personal relationship with the mayor."

She asked to be appointed to Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald's seat but then withdrew her request, a city official confirmed. Ethics commissioners are not supposed to engage in any political activity. Guess she forgot.

As the screening panel, Flangas and Keele split over whether the full panel also should check out three other areas of controversy:

• Goodman's use of a Cadillac, which he doesn't report as a gift on his disclosure reports.

• Goodman's endorsement of Bombay Sapphire gin.

• The mayor's endorsement of a contest in Jane Magazine.

Flangas recommended they be included as part of the iPolitix ethics complaint; Keele thought they should be a separate complaint.

It wasn't, as Goodman misstated in his news conference, "One said he didn't believe there was any validity to it. The other believes there was validity to it, so we go forward with it."

Another lawyerly word game by Goodman was rooted out Wednesday.

In October 2002, he said the $100,000 from his gin endorsement would be donated to two charitable organizations. The $50,000 to the Meadows School founded by his wife, Carolyn, was processed swiftly and is clearly an enhancement to that school.

But the $50,000 Goodman said he would give to "help the homeless" sat in city coffers earning interest until recently, when it was used to pay part of the city's contribution to a Crisis Intervention Center at WestCare Nevada.

By paying a pre-existing bill, this frees up $50,000 for other use by the city. It certainly can't be considered any kind of enhancement for the homeless.

Goodman didn't help the homeless any more than they were already being helped. He just paid a bill.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at jane@reviewjournal.com or call 383-0275.