Airport problems continue

McCarran International Airport concessions contracts will once again be the focus of ethics discussions Thursday when a current and former aviation director are scheduled to appear before the state Ethics Commission.

Aviation Director Randy Walker and Bob Broadbent, who had previously held the position, are expected to address a complaint filed by Las Vegas resident Robert Rose during Thursday morning's closed hearing.

In November, Rose accused the two of violating ethics laws by allowing seven vendors to set up businesses at McCarran under the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.

The federally funded program was created to allow minorities secure business contracts. Rose said the businesses allowed in the airport were not properly certified and some did not qualify for the program.

One of the businesses Rose questioned, Las Vegas Gourmet Coffee Co., was shut down earlier this year. Host Marriott Services Corp., the airport's master concessionaire, is trying to evict business owner Gary Naseef, but Naseef is protesting.

Naseef is attempting to sue Marriott, the county and Clark County Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates for allegedly forcing him out of business.

Ethics commissioners will determine Thursday whether they should continue their probe into Walker and Broadbent's role in the concession contracts.

Neither Broadbent nor Walker were available for comment Tuesday.

The manner in which concession contracts at the airport's new D concourse were negotiated has kept the Ethics Commission busy for months.

In June, the panel concluded that Gates and Clark County Commissioner Lance Malone violated state ethics laws by failing to disclose friendships and family relationships before voting to award concession contracts.

They also broke a law that prohibits public officials from using their position to benefit others, according to the Ethics Commission.

Thursday's closed hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in the City Council chambers at the Las Vegas City Hall.

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