Commission says Atkinson Gates, Malone violated ethics laws

The Nevada Ethics Commission Saturday found two Clark County Commissioners guilty of violating state ethics laws, but cleared a third, in last summer's awarding of lucrative D Gate concessions at McCarran International Airport.

County Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates was cited for six violations for giving preferential treatment to two of her friends, political consultant Michael Chambliss and fund-raiser Judy Klein, and then voting on their contracts last August.

County Commissioner Lance Malone was found to have committed two violations for helping Gay Reber, a family friend, land two airport concessions.

But County Commissioner Myrna Williams, who's running for re-election this year, was cleared of voting on a contract for Klein, her "best friend," after she presented evidence she did not know that Klein was involved in the company that was awarded the concession.

Afterwards, Williams said she felt "exonerated" and had learned a great lesson as a result of being brought before the Ethics Commission, an agency she helped create while serving as an Assemblywoman at the Nevada Legislature.

Gates, who was cited for violating ethics laws earlier this year in an unrelated matter, said: "I'm glad its over." But she refused further comment.

Malone said he was "disappointed" in being charged with violating the ethics law. But added he believed the experience would make him a better commissioner.

The findings were the result of a grueling four-day hearing in which nearly two dozen witnesses had testified.

In the cases of Gates and Malone, the Ethics Commission determined that their actions were not wilful, and it declined to impose sanctions against them.

But several panel members, including Chairwoman Mary Boetsch, scolded the two county officials for allowing politics to influence the selection of 13 concessionaires at the just-opened D-Gates.

"The process didn't work, and you're the reason why," Boetsch told Gates and Malone.

Ethics Commissioner Helen Chisolm added: "It's the whole process that's flawed. It needs to be overhauled."

Gates and Malone were chastised for having input in a list of 10 preferred applicants that was circulated by County Manager Dale Askew before the selection process was completed.

The companies run by their friends were on that list.

In testimony Thursday, Askew said he was just doing his job when he gave Aviation Director Randy Walker the list.

He told the commission that he was trying to prevent any potential conflicts between the elected officials and Host Marriott -- the company that would be recommending the concession contracts to the county commissioners.

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