Saturday, February 14, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Moncrief asserts innocence, urges swift justice

Janet Moncrief Says any illegal activity during campaign occurred without her knowledge

An upbeat Las Vegas City Councilwoman Janet Moncrief said Friday that she hopes to put swiftly to rest allegations of wrongdoing in her campaign for office last year.

State authorities served the freshman councilwoman on Thursday with notice of their intent to indict her on campaign law violations in her spring victory over Ward 1 incumbent Councilman Michael McDonald. Her campaign contributions, expenditures and other activities are under scrutiny.

"I just want it to be over with, and I want them to move quickly," she said.

"I didn't do anything wrong, and they need to look at the ones who were doing things wrong."

As she has since the allegations first were leveled against her nearly a year ago, Moncrief said any illegal activity that benefited her campaign was carried out without her knowledge.

"All I did was run a positive campaign," she said.

However, authorities said Thursday that they are targeting only Moncrief.

The councilwoman was ultimately responsible for what happened in her campaign, said Lt. Matt Alberto of the Nevada Department of Public Safety's Investigation Division, the lead investigator in the probe.

Moncrief said that not only was she unaware of the illegal activities, but she had no reason to underreport donations, as some have alleged she did by at least $100,000.

"I would have been very tickled to say I was receiving more money in my campaign," she said, "but I didn't."

However, recent revelations show Moncrief's bid for office was more sophisticated and costly than most voters imagined at the time.

While she played up her image as a scrubs-clad nurse going door to door with folksy fliers from her home computer, well-financed teams quietly were canvassing neighborhoods in support of her campaign.

According to her campaign strategist, Tony Dane, it cost more than $30,000 to put teams of teenagers on the streets over the course of the campaign. Those expenditures either never were reported on Moncrief's finance reports or were underreported by more than $20,000.

The filing of accurate campaign finance reports ensures that donors' contributions remain within legal limits. If Moncrief underreported contributions, some supporters could have donated far more than allowed by law.

Dane has been subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury.

Peter "Chris" Christoff and former Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Miller allege that Moncrief worked with them on negative mailers, some of them sent anonymously and some under Christoff's name, targeting McDonald. They allege that the mailers were paid for by Moncrief and gaming figure Bob Stupak but never were reported.

Moncrief said Friday that she learned of the mailers' existence when they arrived in residents' mailboxes.

"Some of those people that wanted me elected or didn't want McDonald elected, it's really sad that they double-cross like that," she said.

Referring to the state authorities seeking to indict her, Moncrief said: "They're going to have to prove I did something wrong."

Moncrief said she hasn't yet hired an attorney to represent her, though several contacted her Friday morning offering their services. She also hasn't decided whether she will appear before a grand jury on Feb. 24 to offer evidence in her defense.

"This is extremely new to me," she said.

But the councilwoman said the allegations weren't worrying her unduly. Nor will they keep her from her council duties, she said.

"I'm still gung-ho on what we're accomplishing in Ward 1," she said.

"This has nothing to do with it."

But several of Moncrief's colleagues, who emphasized they're withholding judgment on her guilt or innocence, acknowledged that the accusations will affect an already divided council. Moncrief has distanced herself from other members of the council in the wake of several high-profile losses on issues affecting her ward.

"It casts a huge shadow," Councilman Gary Reese said of the allegations.

"It's a serious charge."

Councilman Michael Mack added, "It's unfortunate for her, and it's unfortunate for the council. ... I hope it's not true."

Councilman Lawrence Weekly said he believes that Moncrief, not the entire council, will be affected by the allegations.

"I think it's an individual thing," he said.

"It's unfortunate, and I hope she gets past it and can concentrate on her ward."

City Manager Doug Selby also didn't anticipate that a potential indictment against a sitting councilwoman would have much effect on city or council business.

Selby said the reaction among city staff was subdued Friday. He attributed that, in part, to the allegations focusing exclusively on Moncrief's campaign and not on her actions since taking office.

"It's an issue, but not one that's causing disruption to services or attention to the city and its citizens," he said.

"We've seen our elected officials accused of many things, sometimes wrongly accused."