Ethics panel clears Jones, fines former councilman

The Nevada Commission on Ethics cleared Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones of charges Thursday that she behaved unethically when she traveled to Detroit last year to speak on gaming.

The commission also fined former city council member Steve Miller $2,500 for filing the complaint, which one member of the commission described as "frivolous."

Miller contends that Jones speech was an ethical lapse because because at the time Detroit was considering application from various gaming companies, including two Jones reportedly has said she owns stock in: Circus Circus Enterprises and Mirage Resorts Inc. Miller contends Jones stood to gain if those companies were selected.

Detroit officials selected Circus Circus and MGM Grand Inc. to build the casinos.

But the ethics commission found no wrongdoing on Jones' part and slapped Miller with a fine for filing the complaint.

In response to the fine, Miller said, "Good for them, I will hire an attorney and take them to federal court for violating my First Amendment right. If they want to play games..."

In a prepared statement Jones said: "I am heartened that the ethics commission has put an end to Mr. Miller and his friends politically motivated and personal vendettas."

Miller said the Commission Chairwoman Mary Boetch would not allow him to read a statement.

"I believe my First Amendment rights were trampled on, to protect Mayor Jones from disclosure of the amount of stock held in Circus Circus and Mirage Resorts.

"I think beyond a shadow of a doubt that elected officials, especially mayors and governors, should disclose everything they own in gaming stocks."

Commission member Joni Wines abstained from voting because she knows Miller.

"I thought Steve was treated rather rudely," she said.

If she had been allowed to vote, Wines said she would have voted against the majority. She said the remaining four commission members voted unanimously to clear the mayor. Wines said Boetch advised her to abstain.

Miller lost a 1991 mayoral race to Jones, who is now running against Republican Kenny Guinn for governor.

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