LETTERS: Taxpayers hit twice by Judge Jones

To the editor:

Am I the only one in this city who is thoroughly disgusted with the outcome of the recent investigation of Judge Steven Jones? It’s bad enough that he was caught fraternizing in pictures with his girlfriend while she was still appearing before him, along with all of his arm-twisting in his investment fraud schemes. But to exhaust almost all of the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline’s annual budget is just plain ludicrous (“Jones case costs Judicial Discipline Commission over $180k,” July 22 Review-Journal online).

Judge Jones was allowed to get away with this and still collect his salary of more than $200,000 while the investigation was ongoing. I really think we need to pass some kind of law that while under investigation, our elected officials are not allowed to be paid. If they are found innocent, then by all means, hand them a check for all past-due salary. But if found guilty, keep that money to reimburse whatever funds were needed for the investigating and prosecuting them.

This total double-dipping rip-off of the taxpayers has got to stop.

PATRICIA ROMEO

LAS VEGAS

Southwest Gas survey

To the editor:

I received a survey from Southwest Gas to help them “plan the future energy needs for over 1.8 million customers.” At the end of the survey, I was asked to check a box which “describes your total annual household income before taxes.” Does anybody’s income have anything to do with their energy needs, or does it provide a window through which Southwest Gas may consider raising its rates?

GRAHAM H. TYE

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Whittemore and Reid

To the editor:

It was reported that campaign financier and former power broker Harvey Whittemore will start a two-year prison sentence for breaking campaign contribution laws (“Campaign financier Whittemore surrenders,” Aug. 7 Review-Journal).

In case you missed the article, Mr. Whittemore was found guilty of funneling unlawful contributions to the campaign of Sen. Harry Reid back in 2007, and for some strange reason, Sen. Reid wasn’t accused of any wrongdoing in the case.

Mr. Whittemore allegedly met with Sen. Reid in February 2007 at an exclusive restaurant and promised to raise $150,000 toward his re-election campaign. Recently, it was reported that Sen. Reid is moving to an upscale neighborhood in Anthem Country Club, while previously, it’s been shown that Sen. Reid’s wealth has increased quite rapidly. Makes you wonder.

GERET N. KRITZER

LAS VEGAS

Campaign sign cleanup

To the editor:

I noticed in a recent article that the Nye County sheriff candidate Rick Marshall faces a criminal charge for illegal removal of political campaign signs (“Nye County sheriff hopeful charged,” Aug. 7 Review-Journal). Why aren’t charges brought against the dozens of political candidates in Las Vegas who refuse to remove their signs, thus casting blight on neighborhoods across the city?

Between the two issues, my opinion is that the most damage to the citizenry is from the many vacant desert lots that look more like dumps as a result of these hundreds of abandoned signs.

Since our code enforcement officials can’t seem to get a handle on the problem, perhaps a creative and discerning judge in Pahrump could sentence Mr. Marshall to work off that $500 prospective fine by removing our political hopefuls’ trash around the neighborhoods at a rate of $1 per sign. Nye County will never miss the cash.

And could he please start in the northwest part of town?

MIKE FISHBACK

LAS VEGAS