Ethics panel dismisses complaint against state treasurer

CARSON CITY -- A two-member panel of the state Ethics Commission has dismissed a complaint filed by the Nevada Republican Party against state Treasurer Kate Marshall, a Democrat.

Caren Jenkins, executive director of the Ethic Commission, said Friday that Commissioners George Keele and Gregg Gale determined Marshall did not gain any unwarranted privileges when her state office phone number inadvertently was listed as her campaign contact number by the secretary of state.

Before deciding whether to hold a full-scale hearing on whether an official has violated state ethics laws, a panel of Ethics Commission members reviews the complaint and determines whether there are sufficient reasons to proceed.

Jenkins said Marshall had given the secretary of state, when she filed for re-election, both her campaign office and her state office phone numbers. The state office number was supposed to be a day-time contact number for the media. But secretary of state officials placed her state office number on its websites of campaign contact numbers.

An investigation by the Ethics Commission determined only one person called Marshall's office number for campaign purposes and Marshall's secretary gave them her campaign office number.

Earlier a similar Republican complaint filed against Secretary of State Ross Miller, a Democrat, also was dismissed.

Keele is a Republican and Gale a Democrat.

When the complaint was filed, Republican spokeswoman Ciara Turns Mathews said it was "fairly evident that both Treasurer Marshall and Secretary of State Miller are using their public offices for campaign purposes."

"We are obviously disappointed with the Ethics Commission decision not to move forward," Mathews said.

Gary Gray, Marshall's political consultant, said Steve Martin, her Republican opponent in the November election, was responsible for the Republican Party filing the complaint.

"Kate Marshall has a record of accomplishment, success, and integrity which is unmatched and unharmed by Steve Martin's patently political charges," said Gray, who said Marshall was not available for comment Friday.

Martin could not be immediately reached for comment.