Former treasurer plans new ethics complaint

CARSON CITY -- Former state Treasurer Ken Santor, risking a possible fine, says he will file a new complaint with the state Ethics Commission that his political opponent lied in newspaper advertisements.

The commission ruled Thursday that Brian Krolicki, who faces Santor in the GOP primary election Tuesday, did not make any false statements when a radio advertisement said Santor had been found guilty of fraud by the Nevada Supreme Court.

The commission, which has the power to impose fines up to $5,000, came close to imposing a fine on Santor for filing a meritless complaint before backing away.

"By sanctioning a candidate in our first case, I don't want to discourage future candidates," said Commissioner Jud Allen in referring to submitting complaints.

This was the first case before the commission under a new law that prohibits political candidates from spreading lies about opponents.

"So much for the system," Santor said after the ruling.

Santor said he plans to file another complaint, despite the fact the commission won't be able to consider it before Tuesday's election.

Krolicki called Santor a "struggling candidate desperately grasping for straws." He accused Santor of misusing the law and the Ethics Commission to further his own political agenda.

The advertisement in question involved a civil case in which a district judge and the Nevada Supreme Court agreed that Santor intentionally misrepresented certain items in a wildcat oil well deal. He was ordered to pay $58,000 and assessed $5,000 in punitive damages.

Santor said the Krolicki advertisement planted "a seed in the mind of the voters that was deceiving."

After the advertisement started airing on the radio in Reno, Santor said he received quite a few phone calls asking if he was a convicted felon.

Krolicki said his campaign staff carefully worded to advertisement to stick to the facts that the Supreme Court found him guilty. It did not say Santor was "convicted" because that would signify a criminal offense.

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