Guinn asks for change in ethics laws

Republican candidate for governor, Kenny Guinn, unveiled a plan Monday calling for changes in the state's ethics laws.

"In order to set a higher standard of ethics for elected leaders, a governor must lead by example," Guinn said. "Over the past 34 years, I have managed the state's largest utility, the state's largest bank, the state's largest university and the largest school district without having ever been questioned about my personal ethics."

In the past two months Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has been cleared twice by the Nevada Ethics Commission of any wrongdoing on two different charges filed by former Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Miller.

Guinn says he was in no way targeting Jones when he made this proposal.

Jones' campaign spokeswoman Susan McCue said the mayor agrees with Guinn's proposals. But she added Jones believes the state should consider going further by placing limits on campaign spending.

Guinn's plan calls for:

[.] Increasing fines and penalties in cases where officials are found guilty -- with felony convictions for the most serious offenses. If the commission believes a crime has been committed, it would refer the matter to a prosecutor.

[.] Requiring all elected officials to sign a code of ethics, which would clarify what is and is not an ethical violation.

[.] Reform the Ethics Commission by providing it with adequate legal staff.

Mary Boetsch, chairwoman of the Ethics Commission, says the commission already can contact a prosecutor if it believes a law is broken. She added it would depend on how well written a code of ethics is on whether it would eliminate ambiguity for elected officials. She added, however, the additional staff Guinn is calling for is certainly welcome.

"Elected officials must be held accountable for their actions, period," Guinn said. "I believe my three-point plan closes forevermore the loopholes some politicians have crawled through to escape legal action."

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