Political insider puts GOP in real fix

Corrupt Republican campaign insider Steve Wark just can't quit the game. Political junkies are like that.

At a time Wark ought to be searching his soul following his felony conviction in the FBI-led investigation of local homeowners associations, the admitted election fixer simply can't resist trying to influence Nevada's GOP.

That's the only logical conclusion to be reached after Wark was identified positively as one of the backdoor brokers who recently courted former Utah legislator and congressional candidate Carl Wimmer to become the Nevada Republican Party's political director. Wimmer was so confident the fix was in that he prematurely announced his appointment, and then watched it blow up in his face.

"I'm coming down and moving to Nevada for one reason and one reason only, and that is to have Republicans win in Nevada," he said in a Review-Journal story posted June 4.

Wimmer didn't unpack a bag.

In a twist that has embarrassed the state GOP, it soon became evident that Chairman Michael McDonald wasn't aware of Wimmer's new status, and no vote had been taken by the party's executive board. McDonald had been fully focused on his father's serious medical condition, and now it's clear that Wark was one of the operatives who contacted Wimmer.

In a news conference last week in Salt Lake City that was intended to douse the controversy for good, Wimmer said he was the victim of the ongoing chaos that plagues the Nevada Republican Party. Wimmer said he was approached by two people to accept the political director's position, but he wouldn't identify his suitors.

After the news conference broke up, Eric Ethington of the progressive Alliance for a Better Utah approached Wimmer with a video camera rolling. He asked the politician the identity of the person who contacted him about the Nevada job. Wimmer's answer, which I've posted at lvrj.com/blogs/smith, was clear.

"So who was the consultant?" Ethington asked. "You said you'd say."

"His name is ... I don't know the name of the company. His name is Steven Wark," Wimmer replied.

Just a few years ago, Wark was considered a top GOP grass-roots political specialist whose insight was valued by many members of his party. He was a trusted adviser to Gov. Kenny Guinn and North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon, who currently serves as the state GOP's finance chairman and sits on the executive board.

During a recent executive board meeting, Montandon suggested the state party enter into a vendor relationship with the Silver Bullet LLC, a political operations firm managed by Republican strategist Chuck Warren.

On his website, Warren admitted he had no financial relationship with the Nevada GOP, but he also bragged about introducing Wimmer to party operative Jesse Law.

"Heck Yes, I Referred Carl Wimmer for a Job. Shoot Me!" Warren wrote. "Yes, I did refer Carl Wimmer to Jesse Law as a candidate to be the next political director of Nevada Republican Party. I did this for a number of reasons, one being that he would be very good at the job and would work well to bring Paul supporters into the Nevada GOP so we could defeat President Obama and re-elect Sen. Dean Heller. Silly me, for thinking that Carl would also develop a good relationship with Jesse Law and Chairman Michael McDonald and help get the party back on track. And for those who think it is weird or somehow nefarious to refer someone for a job - get a life and grasp on reality."

Warren was initially unavailable by phone Friday, but a call to the company resulted in this exchange. I asked the man who answered the phone, "Can I reach Steve Wark through here?"

"Possibly," the man replied.

A short time later, a cordial Warren said he was beginning to regret suggesting Wimmer for the job.

He added, "Steve's been a friend for years, but he doesn't work for me. ... Jesse just asked Steve about Wimmer. Steve knew Wimmer in the past."

A call seeking comment to Wark's criminal defense attorney Angela Dows was not returned. Multiple attempts to reach Montandon were unsuccessful. Wimmer also declined to return phone calls.

To put it politely, it's insane for the Nevada Republican Party to be keeping company with Wark. His many skills notwithstanding, after his conviction he should be treated with all the warmth of a pervert at the schoolyard gate.

Until the HOA complex conspiracy was interrupted by a multi-agency criminal investigation, Wark played an integral role in a scheme to corrupt and control homeowners boards with the ultimate goal of generating millions from the lucrative construction defect litigation racket.

In pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud on Aug. 30 in U.S. District Court, Wark admitted his role not only as a 1 percent straw buyer at the Vistana condominium development, but also in the corruption of its HOA board.

"Once elected to the Vistana board, Defendant then breached his statutory fiduciary duty to the homeowners by accepting from his co-conspirators compensation, gratuity, and other remuneration that improperly influenced, or reasonably appeared to influence, his decisions resulting in a conflict of interest. Defendant subsequently voted in a matter directed by and favorable to his co-conspirators," the plea memorandum states.

"Defendant also acted as the co-conspirators' campaign consultant to help ensure the co-conspirators were elected to the HOA boards.

"Another tactic co-conspirators used to rig certain HOA board elections was to prepare forged ballots for out-of-town homeowners and either cause them to be transported or mailed to California and thereafter to have the ballots mailed back to Las Vegas from various locations around California so as to make it appear that the ballots were completed and mailed by bona fide homeowners residing outside Nevada."

A phony condo purchase, backdoor payments, fraudulent HOA board status, ballot stuffing: Wark did it all.

He agreed to pay $94,148 in restitution and to cooperate in the ongoing investigation.

Wark's insider perspective could add pressure to criminal target Leon Benzer, whose conduct as the head of Silver Lining Construction is at the center of the government's case.

As a felon, Wark can't vote. His presence near any campaign is radioactive. Anyone who uses him to recruit candidates, pump up campaigns, or get out the vote does so at the risk of being associated with a man who admits he manipulated elections.

It's obvious political junkie Steve Wark can't kick his habit alone. His Republican friends need to stage an intervention.

Then they need to kick him to the curb.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/Smith.