Ex-Guinn aide testifies at Loux ethics hearing

CARSON CITY — A former aide to Gov. Kenny Guinn told the state Ethics Commission today that she does not remember authorizing Agency for Nuclear Projects administrator Bob Loux to set his own salary.

Testifying by phone from Washington, D.C., Victoria Soberinsky Napier said Guinn insisted on the thorough vetting of proposed salary increases among members of his staff, the state Budget Office and the state Personnel Department.

While it appeared her signature was on the salary increase form for Loux in 2000, she said the actual salary figures on the form were not in her handwriting. She also noted she was reading from poor photocopies of the increase forms that were sent to her and could not clearly make out the information.

“It is possible I did sign it,” Napier said.

But she pointed out her signature was not placed in the proper position on the salary increase form.
Napier’s testimony might be crucial as the Ethics Commission hears witnesses today on the third day of an expected four-day hearing to determine whether Loux broke state laws by authorizing salary increases for himself and his staff.

During earlier testimony, Loux lawyers Tom Perkins and Judy Sheldrew said it was Napier who told Loux he could set his own salary and those of his staff. She was Guinn’s deputy chief of staff between 1999 and 2001.

Guinn, however, testified he did not delegate that authority to Loux to set salaries for the Agency for Nuclear Projects.

Former members of his staff and staff members of Gov. Jim Gibbons also said they did not give Loux the authority to set his own salary.

Loux has been hauled before the Ethics Commission on a complaint filled by Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, R-Reno.

She filed that complaint after an Interim Finance Committee hearing in September when Loux admitted he took the salary of an employee who had retired and converted it into 16 percent salary increases for himself and his staff.

He is being charged with giving himself salaries in excess of authorized levels during three consecutive years.

If the Ethics Commission finds Loux broke ethics laws, then he could be ordered to pay a civil fine.

Criminal charges, however, could follow. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Department has had an investigator attend the Ethics Commission hearing.

The ethics hearing is expected to continue into Thursday.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.