Friday, May 14, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Goodman walks

Mayor Oscar Goodman has escaped his encounter with the state Ethics Commission virtually unscathed.

Mr. Goodman faced four charges revolving around whether he violated state law by improperly using his office to benefit his family and friends. On Thursday afternoon, the panel exonerated Mr. Goodman on three counts -- including the charge involving his high-profile endorsement of Bombay Sapphire gin -- while unanimously finding him guilty of using his position to help his son cash in on a business venture.

But the commission deadlocked 2-2 on whether that violation was "willful."

Without the willfulness finding, the panel has no power to fine or otherwise punish the mayor. He walks.

In a sense, the end result again highlights the impotence of the Ethics Commission and its tendency to shy away from exercising its authority.

Mr. Goodman was a high-profile defense attorney, specializing in representing the worst sort of mob vermin. He's been around the block ... and back again. To believe that he didn't "willfully" use his mayoral mug to plug his son's business dealing doesn't pass the smell test.

On the other hand, Mr. Goodman must now face the court of public opinion. True, it will likely take a lot more than Thursday's finding to dent his sky-high approval rating. But our bombastic mayor should nevertheless be humbled by this experience and reconsider his sometimes arrogant, bullet-proof attitude.