GOP plans ethics filing targeting two officials

Two Nevada state officials ran afoul of state ethics laws by using their taxpayer-funded offices for campaign purposes, Nevada Republicans say.

A GOP spokeswoman said Tuesday that the party will file with the state Ethics Commission a complaint about conduct by Secretary of State Ross Miller and Treasurer Kate Marshall, both Democrats.

The Republicans allege Miller and Marshall used office phone numbers as points of contact for their campaigns and, additionally, accuse Miller of violating the law with an official appearance in a televised public service announcement, which they say isn't allowed during campaign season.

Marshall and Miller say they did nothing wrong.

"It seems fairly evident that both Treasurer Marshall and Secretary of State Miller are using their public offices for campaign purposes," Republican spokeswoman Ciara Turns said.

Turns said acting Republican Chairwoman Sherry Dilley will sign off on an official complaint to the Ethics Commission by the end of the week.

It probably will relate to restrictions on officials making government-funded expenditures to support or oppose candidates or ballot measures and the use of government employees or equipment in a private capacity, Turns said. The statutes include numerous exceptions.

In an e-mail Tuesday, Marshall directed criticism at her Republican opponent, Steve Martin, for criticizing her in the media in what she described as a "cheap and baseless attack."

"My record is real and unmatched by my opponent," Marshall said in a statement. "While he's digging through my disclosure forms and reading about my accomplishments on my Web site, I'm working hard to help save Nevada taxpayers more money and to continue to beat the benchmarks for our state's investments."

Marshall campaign adviser Gary Gray said the number was listed only as a contact to reach her, not as a campaign number.

Miller political adviser Jim Ferrence said the office line was one of several he listed as a point of contact.

"He listed it three different ways depending on which page you were looking at," Ferrence said.

Ferrence also responded to the charge it was inappropriate for Miller to appear in ads that identified him as secretary of state and urged people to fill out census forms. The ads featured mixed martial arts fighters from the UFC with Miller.

Ferrence said that the UFC donated all of the production costs and that an accounting of other costs associated with the spot will be provided as soon as it is available.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.