Herrera claims no conflict of interest

Clark County Commissioner Dario Herrera said he took precautions to make sure there was no conflict of interest when he solicited business from the county's ambulance service provider, American Medical Response.

Herrera, who is a partner with Massmedia Inc., called AMR representatives in May and asked if they would be interested in becoming a client of his public relations firm.

AMR Chief Executive Officer Michael Williams said he declined the offer, but would not elaborate on why he wouldn't hire Herrera's firm.

In December the Clark County Commission is expected to decide whether to allow Southwest Ambulance to enter the market that has been dominated by AMR or its former parent company Mercy since 1954.

Herrera said he took all the proper steps to determine whether courting AMR would be unethical.

"I knew AMR was a franchisee of the county and there could be a potential conflict," Herrera said. "I sought a written legal opinion from the district attorney and he said there was not (a conflict)."

AMR officials declined to say whether they believed their decision to turn away Herrera's public relations firm would affect the December commission vote that could result in Southwest taking half of AMR's business.

"I absolutely know that I can be completely unbiased in my decision," Herrera said.

Herrera's predicament is another reason Clark County commissioners should be full-time employees, said Larry Spitler, who chaired an ethics task force assembled by the county last year after a series of ethical blunders.

Spitler said community members must realize that because commissioners are part-time workers, they need to secure a second job. And, he said, board members must realize they are powerful people who can intimidate others, even if that is not their intention.

"I strongly support full-time commissioners," Spitler said. "It is wrong for commissioners to have to look for work and develop contacts because they are so powerful."

Further muddling Herrera's situation is the fact that he took the job with Massmedia after he was elected, Spitler said.

When elected officials hold jobs during their election, voters know what to expect from them. For example, he said, if commissioners are involved in the gaming industry, residents are aware that they will abstain from those matters or perhaps vote in favor of issues related to casinos.

"When you elect someone who is doing something else and they change positions, they sometimes put a different light on themselves," Spitler said.

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