Public corruption will always be with us, on that you can rely

Wayward elected officials, having been caught in various stages of criminal exposure and ethical undress, are rounded up and herded into prison. The names of former Clark County Commissioners Kenny, Herrera, Kincaid-Chauncey, and Malone are etched in infamy on the bathroom wall of local political history.

The bad actors have been replaced. Justice has been served. The community has reflected, repented, and grown. One of the greatest examples of political corruption on record in Southern Nevada fades from memory as the community matures and leaves behind its notorious youth.

The portrait is idyllic.

It’s also a lie.

Corruption is as much a part of politics as stump speeches and yard signs. Not that all elected officials are corrupt, far from it. But even the cleanest of the clean, if they were being frank, have their suspicions about the process.

Southern Nevada may be growing up, but that doesn’t mean you’ve read your last public corruption story. Sheriff Doug Gillespie has been proactive, assigning veteran detectives to follow a hip-deep paper trail in the investigation of former University Medical Center CEO Lacey Thomas. FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Martinez knows the public is no longer sitting back and practicing the old Las Vegas laissez-faire attitude toward slippery public servants.

Since being sworn in on Jan. 7, U.S. Attorney Gregory Brower has carried out the duties of his office. Ask Brower and he’ll quickly reel off the DOJ’s top priorities since 9/11. It’s no surprise that national security and terrorism-related cases top the list.

Prosecuting violent crime, identity theft, crimes against children, and cyber crimes are also among the office’s priorities. Taking nothing away from those worthy law enforcement pursuits, when Southern Nevadans think of fighting crime these days I’m willing to bet many of them rank public corruption near the top of their list.

Brower, a 1982 graduate of Bonanza High, has the advantage of having grown up in Southern Nevada. He remembers past public corruption scandals and watched the rise and fall of seemingly invincible local political leaders. Although his legal career has taken him to Washington, D.C., he appears to possess a local boy’s sense of pride in the community.

“Corruption prosecutions are very important for the community,” Brower said. “It’s something we need to be extra vigilant about.”

It’s not a question of large amounts of money changing hands, he says. It’s a matter of ensuring public confidence in its institutions.

“Sometimes people will look at these cases and ask a question, ‘Who is the victim?’ ” Brower offers. “The answer is, the entire community, the state and county. Sometimes there’s not a dollar loss, not a dead body, but we’re all victims.”

Whether it flies under the banner of good ol’ boy behavior, the politics of juice, or something more sinister, entrenched public corruption breeds community cynicism. That’s part of what makes vigorous investigation and prosecution so important.

And Brower is right. It’s not just scandals the size of G-sting. It’s knowing that offices within your county and state governments are being run by people who serve the taxpayer before themselves. In a boomtown the caliber of Las Vegas, honest service is doubly important in the areas of business licensing and building inspection.

These days, our legal and medical institutions also have been investigated for signs of corruption. An upcoming federal trial targeting lawyers, medical consultants, and local physicians has had segments of those professions buzzing for months.

And there’s the story of Nye County brothel operator Joe Richards, who is accused of attempting to bribe a public official. Only in Nevada would a whorehouse owner find his honor being defended by a ranking member of the state Republican Party. I can’t wait to read Richards’ list of character witnesses.

If battling public corruption around these parts sounds like an exercise in futility, don’t lose heart. Las Vegas really is changing.

As long as the citizenry won’t tolerate openly slippery behavior — and reports the unsavory activity — there will be plenty of work for local and federal officials. Public corruption investigations will remain a high priority.

Think of it as a community portrait we never finish painting.

John L. Smith’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295.