Wednesday, May 26, 1999 | 11:42 a.m.
After a year in which the Nevada Ethics Commission was accused of relentlessly attacking elected officials both verbally and in writing, its only full-time employee claims the board is now taking aim at her.
Executive secretary Lee-Ann Keever says the board is targeting her because of a lengthy whistle-blowing letter she sent Gov. Kenny Guinn in February questioning the legality of certain commission actions.
Keever filed a lawsuit against the state of Nevada in April claiming she was defamed in a budget request report the commission distributed to the state Legislature.
The report emphasizes the need for an executive director and then offers support for its request.
"Because of the problems with the employee's work performance and because of the increased needs of the Commission, the Commission had to rely upon the Commission's Deputy Attorney General and his legal assistant to perform many administrative functions," the report says.
"The suggestion there are problems with the employee's work performance is what the complaint is based on. We're claiming that is defamatory," said Keever's attorney Jeffrey Dickerson, who added that he is preparing a supplement complaint with more specifics.
The new ethics law, which includes an executive director position, was passed by the Senate and Assembly and is currently in conference committee. If it is signed by Guinn, Keever's position likely would be eliminated.
Keever said Tuesday she was miffed at the commission's report to legislators because she hasn't received a performance evaluation since 1989. She said her negative review from the board might have been prompted by her letter to Guinn.
In the 12-page letter dated Feb. 15, Keever says because the Ethics Commission is in dire need of funding, it should collect outstanding fines, which approach $700,000.
She also claimed the board did not properly issue subpoenas, failing to mail letters before the legal paperwork as state law requires. Keever said subpoenas were faxed, placed in mailboxes without postage or taped to residents' front doors.
In addition, her letter says, minutes hadn't been heard or approved in two years and open meeting and due process laws had been violated.
Lastly Keever said that in December, she was harassed by commission Chairwoman Mary Boetsch, who sent her three letters of reprimand in fewer than 15 days. One of the letters was in response to Keever's request that outstanding fines be collected.
"It should be obvious that there are substantial problems with the Ethics Commission and its operation," she wrote. "The failure to observe and/or meet the requirements or the statutes has left the state in a precarious legal position should dissatisfied individuals become aware of the improprieties involved in their matters."
During Friday afternoon's Ethics Commission meeting, deputy attorney general Robert Bony, who recently replaced Louis Ling, directed members to refrain from speaking to reporters about the lawsuit.
Steve George, public information officer for the attorney general's office, said state officials won't comment on the Keever lawsuit until after it is resolved.
Bob Pike, chief investigator for the attorney general's office, said Keever's letter was distributed to several investigators who have expertise in the various areas that Keever touched upon.
"We spent quite a bit of time on this; we took this very seriously," Pike said. "We checked every aspect of the letter out. She was unable to supply any information as to criminal behavior when confronted."
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