Councilman possibly has many conflicts

Potentially, Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Ross faces "myriad" conflicts between his role as a councilman and secretary-treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building Trades Council, according to an opinion released by the state ethics panel Friday.

However, the Nevada Commission on Ethics also said that "such conduct does not, by itself, violate the Ethics in Government Law."

Ross asked for the commission's opinion a year ago when he was seeking the position with the trades council, which among other things encourages business owners and contractors to use union labor.

Commission members advised him at the time that it was acceptable to hold both positions, but that he would have to be careful in keeping his two jobs separate. Ross was told to disclose his conflict and abstain on matters involving the trades council that come before the City Council.

There were also worries that went beyond business directly involving the trade group, known as BCTC.

"Contractors and other private businesses often come before the council on matters requiring council action," the commission's opinion said. "These may be entities that Ross has contacted for BCTC in an effort to encourage their use of organized labor.

"Although abstention may be a safe harbor, the commission cautions Ross that frequent abstention deprives his constituents of a voice in matters which come before the council."

Ross was not available for comment Friday.

When he was elected to the Building Trades Council position in July, however, he promised not to favor a union project that wasn't good for the community and said he wouldn't use his council position to push developers to use organized labor.

The commission's actions in May 2007 took place behind closed doors, which is allowed by state law. Ross had the option of keeping it that way but waived confidentiality, according to the commission. The written opinion was released April 21.

Ross has not abstained on any vote in the past year, according to the city clerk's office.

But Ross has been seeking advice to make sure he's not crossing the line, City Attorney Brad Jerbic said.

"From the time that we went to ask for the advisory opinion until now ... he's been very careful in involving my office if anything could even be construed as having a conflict," Jerbic said.

Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.